Cover photo: Thuy Ta on Unsplash; Illustration: Georg Media
The trees in our cities are increasingly in survival mode. Summers are getting hotter and drier, rainfall is changing and shifting and many trees in Germany are suffering from drought stress. This is not only felt by the trees themselves, but also by all of us. The shade-providing crowns, cooling evaporation and refreshing air are at risk – and with them the urban climate as a whole.
We take a closer look at these developments in the November issue of G+L. In the face of record heat and droughts, the question arises: What can the future of urban trees look like? Are our current efforts to care for and water them sufficient? We show why urban trees are much more than just an aesthetic addition and how important it is to manage urban vegetation in a sustainable, climate-friendly way in the long term.
One aspect we are looking at is the search for resistant tree species. While native trees are reaching their limits, species from more southerly regions are coming into focus. But how much “exoticism” is compatible with urban areas? Is there already experience that shows us how these trees can establish themselves in our ecosystem – without jeopardizing the fragile balance? Selecting suitable species is a balancing act between the urge to innovate and ecological responsibility.
In discussions with experts from research and practice, we ask about strategies for selecting tree species and dealing with drought stress, about concrete examples from Kassel and Stockholm and about the contribution that citizens can make or are already making on a voluntary basis. It is undisputed that we need to rethink today in order to be able to experience our green urban icons tomorrow.
It takes not only innovative solutions, but also political and social support to make urban greenery crisis-proof. In this issue, we show how cities are already mastering the challenge and where we still have to break new ground in adapting to the climate needs of the future. Because the future of our cities literally depends on these roots.
The magazine is available here in the store.
In our October issue, everything revolved around the topic of digitalization in offices. Read more about it here.
