European TreeTag campaign highlights urban tree value

The European TreeTag campaign has launched across nine countries to highlight the ecological value and essential services provided by urban trees. The initiative uses specialized tags to inform citizens about the specific benefits trees offer to their local environments, such as carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and rainwater management.

In Hvidovre, Denmark, local officials marked the campaign by placing a sign on a large winter oak located between the town hall and the health center. The municipality, which manages approximately 9,500 public trees, aims to demonstrate how trees mitigate flood risks by absorbing rainwater and improve air quality by filtering pollutants and absorbing CO2.

In Baarn, Netherlands, the campaign includes tagging selected trees to reveal their impact. For instance, a large plane tree near the town hall is noted for its ability to collect over 64,000 liters of water and provide enough oxygen for one person for 146 days. Experts involved in the campaign emphasize that the invisible benefits of trees, such as cooling urban temperatures, are often undervalued in urban planning decisions.