Essen and Munich address urban tree safety and climate planting

The city of Essen will fell 56 priority‑2 risk trees within the next two weeks. These trees, identified by municipal experts as posing a danger to nearby streets, cycle routes, rail lines or buildings, must be removed to protect public safety. The city classifies risk trees into three priority levels: immediate removal for priority 1, removal within 14 days for priority 2, and seasonal felling for priority 3.

In Munich, the municipal building department has planted 210 new trees east of the lake in Riemer Park as part of a climate‑adaptation effort. Seventy larger trees were placed to provide shade for bath‑season visitors, and a further 140 were added in surrounding park areas. The planting uses native species such as hornbeam, bird cherry, walnut, pear and oak, and is funded by the KfW programme “Natural Climate Protection in Municipalities.” The new trees are intended to cool the city through shade and transpiration and to enhance biodiversity for birds and insects.