The community platform Bosque Urbano Málaga (BUM) celebrates a decade of mobilization to convert the former Repsol land into a large park. Its spokesperson, Pedro Sánchez, reflects on the achievements and challenges.
What began ten years ago as a citizen petition online has become one of the most persistent community and environmental movements in Málaga. Bosque Urbano Málaga (BUM) celebrates its tenth anniversary with the conviction that the city can still gain a large green lung on the former Repsol land, between the districts of Cruz de Humilladero and Carretera de Cádiz.
The platform's spokesperson, Pedro Sánchez, reviewed in an interview the journey taken and the decisive moment the project faces. "Many things have happened in these ten years, with enormous social support and with a space that is gradually becoming that urban forest we all want, but we still lack the support of the governing team," he stated.
The main thorn in the side for the group is "not having convinced the Governing Team" of their project and that the mayor, Francisco de la Torre, "has not given up on building" in the area. According to Sánchez, the City Council maintains its commitment to the urban development of the plot, while BUM advocates for its conversion into a large park.
A Zone with a Deficit of Green Spaces
The demand focuses on the former Repsol land, a strategic space due to its location in one of the most densely populated areas of the capital. "There are neighborhoods that barely reach two square meters of green space per inhabitant when the World Health Organization recommends reaching at least fifteen," Sánchez recalled.
In his view, the plot represents "the last opportunity" to provide a large area of Málaga with a park of significant dimensions capable of improving air quality and the quality of life for thousands of residents. The group argues that the urban reclassification of the land violates the principle of non-reversion of green areas.
Nearly 500 Trees Planted and Educational Work
Far from being discouraged, BUM has maintained constant activity over this decade. "It’s tiring because it’s been ten years of developing proposals, presenting projects, and maintaining nearly five hundred trees planted, especially during the summer months, but the support from the community gives us the strength to continue," Sánchez explained.
Each planting event brings together entire families who participate in creating the future urban forest and, in many cases, return later to care for the trees they helped plant. "It moves us to see how children plant a tree, come back to water it, and grow practically at the same time as it does," he noted.
Additionally, he highlights the growing interest from high schools, colleges, universities, and community associations to learn about both the environmental project and the workings of a citizen movement. "They want us to explain how a community group can help transform the reality of the city," he indicated.
Three Ongoing Legal Cases
The future of Bosque Urbano Málaga continues to depend largely on the courts. The platform has three contentious-administrative procedures open related to the planned urban development for the former Repsol land. The main one, according to Sánchez, is already in its final phase.
BUM argues that the urban reclassification violates the principle of non-reversion of green areas and also questions the mobility system planned for the surrounding area. "We understand that there is no mobility plan capable of handling the growth that the new constructions would entail, and that should require a complete rethinking of the project," he asserted.
For the spokesperson, the debate transcends a specific plot and affects the city model. "Today we know that cities need large climate refuges. A climate refuge is not a shopping centre with air conditioning; it’s large wooded areas capable of reducing the temperature by six or seven degrees," he stated.
"We Feel Like David Against Goliath"
Sánchez acknowledged that constant work takes its toll, although social backing compensates for any difficulties. "We feel like David against Goliath," he noted, referring to the inequality of resources compared to the City Council and real estate developers.
The spokesperson emphasized that citizen support has been the greatest achievement of the platform in these ten years. More and more residents are getting involved in the plantings and activities, and the group has gained visibility in the media and on the local political agenda.
Looking to the future, BUM will continue fighting for the Repsol land and for a more sustainable city model. "We will keep planting trees, presenting objections, and mobilizing the community until Málaga has the great park it deserves," Sánchez concluded.
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