A few years ago, I stumbled upon an arresting scene of a young man stretched out in the elbow of a low lying branch of a Japanese pagoda tree, its leaves skimming the pond at Butte.
The city's trees, from the dramatic weeping willows and their trailing fronds along the Seine to the military rows of London plane trees that line the Champs-lysées, are an underappreciated supporting role.
In Paris, where dozens of stately landmarks command the attention of locals and visitors alike, there is a tendency to overlook urban trees.
Public and political awareness of the city's trees has renewed recently, not only as a natural, free-standing monument, but also as a key asset in the fight against climate change. Paris is investing in the tree-scape by planning new urban forests, increasing the number of protected historical trees and designing walking tours because trees can offer a fresh, green- minded perspective of the City of Light.
The deputy mayor said that trees are an important part of Paris's identity. The alignment of trees and Parisian promenades is a 150-year-old heritage. Following in the footsteps of this heritage is what we are doing.
The Japanese pagoda tree, which has since been fenced off, is one of 15 in Paris that carries the official designation "Remarkable Tree of France". The association wants to promote and protect the most important and rare trees in France.
A tree that is not particularly striking but has cultural andbiological significance is on the list.
The black locust, or Robinier faux acacia, is the oldest tree in Paris and was brought over from North America. The tree has scars from World War II and is supported by steel beams.
A city forest engineer told me that she is the mother plant. It's possible that all the black locust trees in France came from this tree.
The city of Paris has a separate, more expansive catalog of trees, which can be found on a public interactive map. Both lists have the same criteria, including age, size, botanical and cultural importance.
The last stop on a self-guided walking tour of trees created by the city is the black locust at Square Réné Viviani.
The Arbres president said that a damaged tree wouldn't have survived in nature. Protection of monuments is similar to it. Why don't we keep old churches? They give testimony to the history of men.
There are linden trees that border the Place des Vosges square and flood- resistant poplars at Place Louis Aragon on the walking tour.
Last year, Paris lawmakers approved a project that aims to plant 170,000 new trees throughout the city and create pockets of urban forests to mitigate the effects of extreme urban heat and pollution. There is a pledge to protect Paris's exceptional specimen in the city's 10-point "tree charter".
In six years, the goal is to completely review the urban approach, protect existing trees and plant as much as possible.
The revival of a long heritage of urban planners can be seen in the contemporary tree planting scheme. The first tree-lined promenade in Paris can be traced back to the 17th century, when Queen Marie de Médicis requested walking paths not far from her palace in the Jardin des Tuileries. Cours la Reine is a group of trees that stretch from Place de la Concorde to Place du Canada.
In the 19th century, trees played a central role in the city. The number of trees increased from 50,500 to 95,600 over the course of 17 years. Paris has an unique landscape due to the homogeneity of tree-lined boulevards and shaded passageways.
A repetitive landscape is created by the alignment of trees along avenues and main boulevards. It's a bit like Versailles. It creates a very classic landscape in the center of Paris.
The climate emergency has made Parisians more attached to their trees. She has to assure people that she is merely conducting a medical visit when she taps the trunks with mallets.
She said that the tree has never been as important as it is now. I have never spoken so much about trees.
The news that a plane tree near the Eiffel Tower could be torn down as part of the city's plans to improve the area for the Olympic Games in 2024 sparked protests and online outrage. Zero trees will be felled during construction as the city re-examines the plans.
The Arbres association gets daily requests for new trees to be adorned with the Remarkable label. The association works closely with the city of Paris and recently received public support from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Paris and Bordeaux are two of the cities that have signed the association's "Tree Bill of Rights".
Mr. Feterman asked cities to work differently and to consider the tree as a living, breathing entity.
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