Mass tree death in Potsdam palace parks

taketonews

By Michael Sauerbier

Global warming is destroying Potsdam’s famous castle parks! More and more old giant trees are dying due to heat, drought and storms. The Castle Foundation is now looking for trees that can sustainably tolerate the new Mediterranean climate.

Bare meadows where huge trees stood, felled trunks and withered branches along the way. The heat and drought of recent years have cut wide paths through Potsdam’s three palace parks. “In Sanssouci and the other palace parks, 800-1000 trees die every year,” reported garden director Prof. Michael Rohde on Friday.

Tree death PRODUCTION - November 17th, 2023, Brandenburg, Potsdam: Damaged trees in Babelsberg Park. At a press event, information was provided about the promotion of heavy rain prevention and climate adaptation in listed gardens and parks. The state of Brandenburg wants to better protect historical parks such as Sanssouci and Babelsberg in Potsdam from damage caused by climate change. Cities can also receive financial help over the next four years to better prepare for the dangers of heavy rain. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++ *** Local Caption ***

A dead tree in Babelsberg Castle Park – the sight is becoming more and more common Photo: dpa

In the Sanssouci Palace Park alone, the number of tree corpses rose from 20-70 per year to 180-200. 3,500 more are already sick. “We have been experiencing an explosive deterioration since 2017,” says Schlösser boss Christoph Martin Vogtherr. Bad, because: Every single tree was carefully placed centuries ago by the garden artists Prince Pückler and Peter Josef Lenné. “Like a theater set,” says garden director Rohde – which is now collapsing.

Even worse: replanted trees no longer grow! Despite irrigation, the success rate fell from 80 to just 30 percent, and two thirds of the young trees from the nurseries do not survive. The solution: “We are now growing new species in areas of our parks,” says garden manager Rohde, “such as distorted oaks instead of German English oaks. And then look: which trees can tolerate the hot climate and which can’t?”

Tree death PRODUCTION - November 17th, 2023, Brandenburg, Potsdam: Michael Rohde, garden director of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, points out damaged trees and possible countermeasures in Babelsberg Park. At a press event, information was provided about the promotion of heavy rain prevention and climate adaptation in listed gardens and parks. The state of Brandenburg wants to better protect historical parks such as Sanssouci and Babelsberg in Potsdam from damage caused by climate change. Cities can also receive financial help over the next four years to better prepare for the dangers of heavy rain. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Garden director Prof. Michael Rohde is experimenting with heat-resistant tree species Photo: dpa

An expensive, lengthy procedure. Only after 50 years does an oak sapling become a stately tree. Brandenburg has now recognized the problem. “The state and the EU are supporting listed parks with 30 million euros for climate adaptation,” announced Culture Minister Manja Schüle (47, SPD). Environment Minister Axel Vogel (67, Green Party) is paying another 25 million for heavy rain protection.

Garden director Rohde is happy: “We can use the money to make the castle parks future-proof.” But not overnight. Rohde knows: the mass death of trees in Sanssouci will continue in the next few years.

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