Opponents of the scheme on the Canary Island of La Gomera call it an atrocity and will demonstrate against it on Saturday. Their petition to halt the cull of flame trees, whose bright red flowers make them a magnet for tourists, has drawn more than 1,200 signatures. "We are all battling climate change, and trying to create a green San Sebastian. Laura Concepcion, biologist at the World Biosphere Reserve on neighbouring La Palma, said flame trees could not be deemed an aggressive species. Rodriguez admitted the San Sebastian flame trees' roots were interfering with pipes and distorting stones in some places.

---

Persons: Aguilar, Elizabeth Scullion, Angelica Padilla, del Carmen Rodriguez, Gomera, Javier Sanchez, Laura Concepcion, Rodriguez, John Stonestreet, Corina Rodriguez, William Maclean Organizations: Avenida, REUTERS, Canarian, Socialist Party, PSOE, Reuters, UNESCO, La, Thomson Locations: Spanish, La Gomera, Spain, Handout, SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, San Sebastian, La Palma