Bad Homburg's new climate tree: A green beacon of hope for the city!

Bad Homburg's new climate tree: A green beacon of hope for the city!

In Bad Homburg v. d. Something green is happening at altitude! As part of the collaboration on the online tool “Stadtgrün”, the city of Hesse received a climate-resilient tree as a donation. This tree donation, which was made in November 2022, has now been planted at Fried-Lübbecke-Platz. The choice fell on a “southern hackberry tree”, which is known for its robustness and adaptability to extreme conditions.

Mayor Dr. Oliver Jedynak expressed his thanks to the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) for this generous donation. The tree is not only a gift, but also a visible sign of inter-communal networking in the areas of climate adaptation and urban greening. The depot on Dorotheenstrasse is committed to continuing to look after the tree's well-being and to water it regularly.

The importance of urban trees

But why is the new hackberry tree so important for the city? City and street trees are not just a feast for the eyes. They contribute significantly to improving the microclimate, provide shade, filter emissions and provide a habitat for numerous animals. Unfortunately, many urban trees are exposed to extreme conditions, such as soil compaction, air and soil pollutants or road salt, which is often used in winter. These adverse conditions mean that many urban trees often only reach half their potential lifespan.

Climate change is making the situation even worse, as it is increasingly deteriorating the conditions for urban green spaces. Last but not least, an increase in new harmful organisms is expected that threaten the vitality of the trees. It is therefore crucial to adapt the choice of species and location to the changed climatic conditions in order to ensure the lifespan and functions of these valuable plants. The Umweltbundesamt emphasizes that a qualified location analysis and the targeted selection of suitable tree species can significantly increase the lifespan of trees.

Regional exchange and practical approaches

The environment that has just been created around the hackberry tree is representative of a future-oriented tree culture in the region. The selected urban climate trees are characterized by a high growth rate and a longer lifespan. The exchange between municipalities such as Bad Homburg, Dietzenbach, Dreieich and others as part of the “Urban Green” project shows that more can be achieved by working together to make urban spaces more climate-friendly.

For future planning, it is essential to take climatic changes into account and adapt urban green strategies. This is the only way Bad Homburg can keep up with the challenges of the times and continue to flourish as a green oasis. Those interested can find further information about the initiatives and projects on the [HLNUG] website (https://www.hlnug.de/stadtgruen-im-klimawandel).