Potsdam's streets and squares threaten the loss of 20,000 old trees in the next ten years. The town hall relies on deep irrigation as a rescue measure, but there is no money for replanting.

Potsdam's streets and squares threaten the loss of 20,000 old trees in the next ten years. The town hall relies on deep irrigation as a rescue measure, but there is no money for replanting.

In the next ten years, 20,000 of the 40,000 old trees along the streets and squares will be died in Potsdam. The city administration plans to save individual trees through deep irrigation, but there is a lack of financial resources for adequate reproductions.

Potsdam is known for its forests, parks and gardens. However, the cityscape may be shaped by powerful old trees in the future, since half of the trees that are older than 50 years and are the responsibility of the city administration will die over the next ten years. This frightening number refers exclusively to the trees along the streets and squares and does not take into account the trees in the historical gardens or the forest areas, the preservation of which is also threatened.

Lars Schmäh, head of department for climate, environment and green spaces in the town hall, warns of the fatal consequences of this development. Climate change plays a crucial role here. The rising temperatures, longer dry periods and more frequent extreme weather events add the trees and lead to their premature death. The situation is particularly alarming, since the old trees not only have an aesthetic value, but also make an important contribution to improving air quality and urban climate. They donate shadows, reduce air pollution and offer habitat for numerous animal species.

In order to counter the tree death, the city administration has decided to save individual trees with deep irrigation. This method makes it possible to direct water directly into the roots of the tree and thus increase its chances of survival. Due to the targeted irrigation, the trees can better deal with drought time and stay healthy for longer.

However, this measure alone is not sufficient to solve the problem in the long term. There is a lack of financial means to reproduce enough new trees and thus create a replacement for the dying old trees. The city administration is therefore dependent on donations and funding in order to maintain the green areas in Potsdam in the long term and to preserve the cityscape with magnificent trees.

It is urgently needed to raise awareness of the value of the trees and to take measures to protect the urban green. The preservation of the old trees and the new planting of young trees are of crucial importance in order to secure the quality of life in Potsdam in the long term and to counteract the negative effects of climate change. Only if we act together and provide the necessary funds can we preserve the green oasis in the middle of the city.