A young oak tree grows in a forest belonging to the Köpenick Forestry Office. Almost a fifth of Berlin (30,000 hectares) is forested
Photo: Uli Hofmann
By Sara Orlos Fernandes
Berlin’s forests are in bad shape. Climate change is constantly causing fires and pest infestations and is causing around 40 percent of forest trees to show damage. That’s why we’re upgrading this fall.
500,000 young deciduous trees are to be planted in the coming period as part of the mixed forest program. New oaks, beeches, hornbeams, winter linden trees, elms and maples are intended to make the forests more climate-resistant.
The long-term goal is to transform pine forests into mixed deciduous forests. This increases the forest’s resistance to fires and improves the water balance. Because: Precipitation seeps away better under deciduous trees.
According to the Senate Department for the Environment and Climate Protection, four million young native deciduous trees have been planted since the program began eleven years ago. That corresponds to a good 100 hectares of mixed forest.