Constance protects trees: New statutes for urban climate and biodiversity!

Constance protects trees: New statutes for urban climate and biodiversity!

The city of Constance seems to be on the right track when it comes to the protection and appreciation of its city trees. Nature conservation organizations are pleased with the planned change in the tree protection statute, which is to be prepared on July 10th in the technical and environmental committee. The aim of this initiative is to honor the high value of large trees with regard to the city climate, biodiversity and quality of stay. It is clear that old trees have an immense function for the city ecosystem and at the same time have to protect against the challenges of climate change, which is shaped by dryness, heat waves and new pathogens, such as Seemoz reported.

The large, old trees are particularly important. They not only offer habitat for numerous animal species, but also regulate the microclimate, filter emissions and contribute to water storage. If one takes into account the effects of climate change, the preservation of existing trees and their targeted replacement planting becomes a key task that is not only ecologically but also in the city planning. Tree protection statutes are indispensable. The planned staggered compensation plantings stipulate that a replacement tree is planted for each tree with a trunk circumference of more than 100 cm. From a circumference of 200 cm, an additional tree is due for each other meter.

The role of the city trees for sustainable cities

city and street trees are not only decorative accessories, but also an essential component for the quality of life in urban rooms. This is evident from various studies, including a Federal Environment Agency. These emphasize that urban trees are often exposed to extreme conditions due to the soil compression and the load on air and soil pollutants, which means that they often only achieve half of their possible lifespan. Climate change makes a qualified location analysis and a targeted choice of tree species indispensable in order to meet future conditions.

The draft for the tree protection statute in Constance also stipulates that the exception for birch trees is canceled, so that they should fall under the protection regulation in the future. Poplar and pastures are left out for the time being, although their role should not be underestimated for many animal species and the urban climate. A proposal for relieved approval could create a compromise between security concerns and ecological responsibility.

biodiversity -promoting measures in urban space

The project "Biodiversity -promoting climate measures in the urban area", which is funded by the Federal Nature Conservation Office, also aims to improve the protection and care of urban trees. It deals with challenges such as climate change, dense settlement and the need to create new namesake for trees. The importance of the city trees is clear: they donate shadows, cool the surroundings and improve air quality, while they also offer habitats for a variety of organisms, as in the project briefs on [bfn.de] (https://www.bfn.de/projektsteckbriefe/biodiversitaetSfoerdernde- im-urbanen area) is.

The pressure on these trees grows, and the cities are faced with the challenge of taking biodiversity into account and at the same time shaping the urban space. A clever and future -oriented tree policy can make a decisive contribution to remaining livable in the future.