Fewer than one in three felled avenue trees replanted

Traffic-Related Tree Loss: Less than a Third Replanted in Brandenburg

In a recent analysis, it was discovered that mere one-third of the avenue trees uprooted on Brandenburg's state roads over the past few years have been replaced. From 2018 to 2022, 13,300 avenue trees were chopped down, as reported by the Ministry of Transport in Potsdam in response to Green Party member of state parliament Isabell Hiekel's inquiry. Conversely, only around 3,700 avenue trees were put in their place during the same period.

At the end of October this year, the ministry cited stricter safety regulations and climate change's impact, with its effects including drought and tree damage, as reasons for the tree removal. The trees in question were also on the older side. Additionally, insufficient space for new plantings on the avenues has hampered their growth. Factors affecting this include late frosts, sunburn, poor seed quality, salt ingress, and vandalism.

Hiekel, a Green Party member of the state parliament, insists that it's time to protect and replant avenues more extensively, calling for at least equal numbers of avenue trees to be replanted as those felled. She believes that avenue protection can especially benefit roads with minimal traffic volume.

She proposes reducing the speed limits and the minimum distance between the road's edge and avenue trees from 4.5 meters to 3.5 meters on low-traffic state roads. She further suggests doing away with crash barriers. In her view, more trees could then be planted on these roads as is the case in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The ministry has, however, expressed skepticism regarding these proposals. While it concurs with removing guard rails on state roads if a speed limit of 70 km/h applies, it sees no room for maneuver when it comes to the 4.5 meter minimum distance between trees and the road's edge.

The transport ministers of the federal states are currently debating whether the directive for vehicle restraint systems, which includes provisions on the minimum distance of avenue trees from the road, should be revised.

Insights

• To bolster traffic regulations and raise avenue tree replanting in Brandenburg, consider the following steps:
  1. Create designated tree planting zones and protect them with proper markings.
  2. Implement speed calming measures like speed bumps, narrowed lanes, or roundabouts.
  3. Establish parking restrictions to prevent vehicles from obstructing new tree plantings.
  4. Launch awareness campaigns to educate residents and visitors about tree preservation.
  5. Collaborate with local communities for tree planting events and maintenance.
  6. Offer incentives to homeowners and businesses for planting and taking care of trees.
  7. Promote regular tree maintenance processes, such as pruning, watering, and pest control.
  8. Strive for a seamless integration of tree replanting in urban planning strategies.
  9. Regularly review and assess the effectiveness of these measures and modify them accordingly.

[^2]: "Trees in Cities: Urban Forestry for Climate Security, Health and Biodiversity to 2050." International Union for Conservation of Nature. Accessed July 7, 2023. .

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