# Drought and climate adaptation in North Rhine-Westphalia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/drought-and-climate-adaptation-in-north-rhine-westphalia
> Updated: 2026-08-25T04:20:44.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

North Rhine-Westphalia continues to manage environmental challenges driven by changing climatic conditions and water scarcity. Local adaptation efforts have yielded long-term results, such as the 2.8-hectare ‘bee forest’ in Extertal-Nösingfeld. Established five years ago by local beekeeper Heino Rinne and forest officials, this project has successfully converted a former spruce area into a biodiverse deciduous woodland containing approximately 4,200 trees and shrubs, including oak and wild fruit species designed to support bees and insects.

In the horticultural sector, the Fachverband Friedhofsgärtner in the Landesverband Gartenbau Nordrhein-Westfalen reports that cemetery gardeners are facing increased workloads due to high temperatures and prolonged dry periods. To maintain sustainable landscapes, gardeners are prioritizing morning and evening irrigation and shifting toward drought-resistant species like lavender, sedum, and various grasses.

Regarding soil moisture, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research indicates that 55 to 60 percent of the state remains affected by severe to extreme drought, particularly in the central and southern regions, including the Ruhr area, Münsterland, and parts of the Sauerland and Bergische Landschaft. Although recent rainfall of 28 mm over a one-week period exceeded the national average and helped moisten the topsoil, deeper soil layers continue to face significant deficits due to sustained previous dryness.

## Claims

- Approximately 55 to 60 percent of the North Rhine-Westphalia land area is affected by severe to extreme drought. (single source)
- Extreme drought is prevalent in the Ruhr area, Münsterland, and southern parts of the state near the Hessen border. (single source)
- The northwest, including parts of the Emsland landscape, shows moderate to unusual dryness. (single source)
- An average of 28 millimeters of rain fell in the past week in North Rhine-Westphalia. (single source)
- The average temperature in the region was 17.1 degrees Celsius. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Germany weather: Mixed conditions and regional drought reports

Weather reports for Germany show mixed conditions, with sunny intervals in Dresden and Sachsen-Anhalt, while North Rhine-Westphalia faces severe to extreme drought in much of its territory.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-rhine-westphalia-faces-severe-to-extreme-drought

### 2026-08-17: North Rhine-Westphalia implements bee forests and drought-resistant gardening

Environmental and horticultural efforts in North Rhine-Westphalia focus on biodiversity through new bee forests and adapting cemetery maintenance to combat drought and rising temperatures.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-rhine-westphalia-implements-bee-forests-and-drought-resistant-gardening

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Cite as: Drought and climate adaptation in North Rhine-Westphalia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/drought-and-climate-adaptation-in-north-rhine-westphalia