The Las Rozas Town Hall will launch the free campaign against the pine processionary caterpillar next Monday, July 13. Residents will be able to request treatment to protect their trees at no cost.
The Las Rozas Town Hall has announced that the annual campaign against the pine processionary caterpillar will start next Monday, July 13, with a notable new feature: the treatment will be free for all property owners in the municipality. The initiative aims to protect pines, firs, and cedars from this pest that affects the local tree population every year.
Those interested can request the service through the Electronic Headquarters of the council, where they must indicate the number of trees to be treated and their total perimeter. The council has explained that only one application will be accepted per plot, and requests for up to 30 trees will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is exhausted.
An ecological and long-lasting treatment
The campaign will use approved phytosanitary products that do not emit chemical substances into the atmosphere, as detailed by the Las Rozas Town Hall. This sustainable approach minimizes the impact on pollinators, insectivorous birds, and other beneficial organisms that act as natural pest control.
The treatment provides prolonged protection for two seasons of larval development, between November and February, allowing it to be applied every two years. Therefore, residents who treated their trees last year do not need to repeat the operation this year. The council emphasizes that this system reduces the amount of product used and the interventions over time.
Additionally, the initiative helps preserve the arboreal heritage of Las Rozas: healthy trees provide shade, improve air quality, capture CO₂, and cool the urban environment in summer, as well as offering refuge to local biodiversity. According to municipal sources, the campaign is key to maintaining the municipality's green lung.
Direct benefits for residents' health
Beyond protecting the trees, the treatment has a clear impact on public health. The stinging hairs of the processionary caterpillars cause irritations and allergies in people and pets, and their reduction is one of the campaign's top priorities.
The preventive nature of the service also provides a collective benefit: by halting the development of the pest on private plots, its spread to neighbouring areas and public green spaces in the municipality is limited. In this way, all residents of Las Rozas, even those who do not request the treatment, benefit from the measure.
For those who have not treated their trees before, the Town Hall recommends being alert to visible symptoms in winter: tufts of dry leaves and silk bags hanging from the treetops. The pest usually does not kill pines but weakens them and makes them more susceptible to other diseases.
How to request the service and deadlines
The application period opens on July 13 and requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for more than 30 trees will be placed on a waiting list. The treatment will be carried out during the months of September, October, and November, as confirmed by the council.
Interested residents can access the form on the Electronic Headquarters of the Las Rozas Town Hall. It is necessary to have the plot data and the perimeter of the trees to be treated at hand. The service is free but limited to the available budget, so it is recommended not to delay the application.
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