The private sector reports that they previously handled 80% of municipal landscaping tasks, a figure that has plummeted recently. This shift affects towns including Berga, Puig-reig, and Cercs, where a new specialist now oversees urban greenery management.
The companies, supported by the Berguedà Business Association, criticize new pruning standards and the direct purchase of plants from outside the region. They argue this undermines local sustainability and ignores the expertise of professionals who understand the local soil and climate.
“"Decisions are being made solely from administrative or political spheres, without taking into account the technical experience of those who know the trees."
While local mayors, such as Eva Serra from Puig-reig, defend the move as a way to optimize public resources, the nine signatory companies, including Arrels Arboricultura, demand a return to local procurement to ensure the sector's survival.
