Villanueva de la Sierra

Villanueva de la Sierra, Spain
municipality
Flag Seal
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Extremadura
Province	Cáceres
Municipality	Villanueva de la Sierra
Area
• Total	44 km2 (17 sq mi)
Elevation	524 m (1,719 ft)
Population (2005)
• Total	577
• Density	13.1/km2 (34/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Villanueva de la Sierra is a municipality located in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. According to the 2005 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 577 inhabitants.

Arbor Day

The naturalist Miguel Herrero Uceda at the monument to the first Arbor Day in the world, Villanueva de la Sierra 1805.

Villanueva Sierra is proud to be the town where was held the first Arbor Day around the world. An initiative launched in 1805 by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.^[1]

While Napoleon was ravaging Europe with his ambition in this village in the Sierra de Gata lived a priest, don Ramón Vacas Roxo, which, according to the chronicles, "convinced of the importance of trees for health, hygiene, decoration, nature, environment and customs, decides to plant trees and give a festive air. The festival began on Carnival Tuesday with the ringing of two bells of the church, and the Middle and the Big. After the Mass, and even coated with church ornaments, don Ramón, accompanied by clergies, teachers and a large number of neighbours, planted the first tree, a poplar, in the place known as Valley of the Ejido. Tree plantations continued by Arroyada and Fuente de la Mora. Afterwards, there was a feast, and did not miss the dance. The party and plantations lasted three days. He drafted a manifesto in defence of the trees that was sent to surrounding towns to spread the love and respect for nature, and also he advised to make tree plantations in their localities.

—Miguel Herrero Uceda, Arbor Day

Arbor Day is still celebrated every Carnival Tuesday and is a big day in the local festival calendar

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villanueva de la Sierra.

Municipalities in the province of Cáceres Abadía Abertura Acebo Acehúche Aceituna Ahigal Alagón del Río Albalá Alcántara Alcollarín Alcuéscar Aldea del Cano Aldeacentenera Aldeanueva de la Vera Aldeanueva del Camino Aldehuela de Jerte Alía Aliseda Almaraz Almoharín Arroyo de la Luz Arroyomolinos de la Vera Baños de Montemayor Barrado Belvís de Monroy Benquerencia Berrocalejo Berzocana Bohonal de Ibor Botija Brozas Cabañas del Castillo Cabezabellosa Cabezuela del Valle Cabrero Cáceres Cachorrilla Cadalso Calzadilla Caminomorisco Campillo de Deleitosa Campo Lugar Cañamero Cañaveral Carbajo Carcaboso Carrascalejo Casar de Cáceres Casar de Palomero Casares de las Hurdes Casas de Don Antonio Casas de Don Gómez Casas de Millán Casas de Miravete Casas del Castañar Casas del Monte Casatejada Casillas de Coria Castañar de Ibor Ceclavín Cedillo Cerezo Cilleros Collado Conquista de la Sierra Coria Cuacos de Yuste Deleitosa Descargamaría El Gordo El Torno Eljas Escurial Fresnedoso de Ibor Galisteo Garciaz Garganta la Olla Gargantilla Gargüera Garrovillas de Alconétar Garvín Gata Guadalupe Guijo de Coria Guijo de Galisteo Guijo de Granadilla Guijo de Santa Bárbara Herguijuela Hernán-Pérez Herrera de Alcántara Herreruela Hervás Higuera Hinojal Holguera Hoyos Huélaga Ibahernando Jaraicejo Jaraíz de la Vera Jarandilla de la Vera Jarilla Jerte La Aldea del Obispo La Cumbre La Garganta La Granja La Pesga Ladrillar Logrosán Losar de la Vera Madrigal de la Vera Madrigalejo Madroñera Majadas Malpartida de Cáceres Malpartida de Plasencia Marchagaz Mata de Alcántara Membrío Mesas de Ibor Miajadas Millanes Mirabel Mohedas de Granadilla Monroy Montánchez Montehermoso Moraleja Morcillo Navaconcejo Navalmoral de la Mata Navalvillar de Ibor Navas del Madroño Navezuelas Nuñomoral Oliva de Plasencia Palomero Pasarón de la Vera Pedroso de Acim Peraleda de San Román Peraleda de la Mata Perales del Puerto Pescueza Piedras Albas Pinofranqueado Piornal Plasencia Plasenzuela Portaje Portezuelo Pozuelo de Zarzón Puerto de Santa Cruz Rebollar Riolobos Robledillo de Gata Robledillo de Trujillo Robledillo de la Vera Robledollano Romangordo Rosalejo Ruanes Salorino Salvatierra de Santiago San Martín de Trevejo Santa Ana Santa Cruz de Paniagua Santa Cruz de la Sierra Santa Marta de Magasca Santiago de Alcántara Santiago del Campo Santibáñez el Alto Santibáñez el Bajo Saucedilla Segura de Toro Serradilla Serrejón Sierra de Fuentes Talaveruela de la Vera Talaván Talayuela Tejeda de Tiétar Tiétar Toril Tornavacas Torre de Don Miguel Torre de Santa María Torrecilla de los Ángeles Torrecillas de la Tiesa Torrejón el Rubio Torrejoncillo Torremenga Torremocha Torreorgaz Torrequemada Trujillo Valdastillas Valdecañas de Tajo Valdefuentes Valdehúncar Valdelacasa de Tajo Valdemorales Valdeobispo Valencia de Alcántara Valverde de la Vera Valverde del Fresno Viandar de la Vera Villa del Campo Villa del Rey Villamesías Villamiel Villanueva de la Sierra Villanueva de la Vera Villar de Plasencia Villar del Pedroso Villasbuenas de Gata Zarza de Granadilla Zarza de Montánchez Zarza la Mayor Zorita

Coordinates: 40°12′N 6°24′W / 40.200°N 6.400°W / 40.200; -6.400