Climate, environmental and nature conservation

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety: Heating with wood

When driving through our district, it is noticeable that many large trees along the roads are subject to so-called maintenance pruning. A veritable competition has already developed as to who is best at disfiguring the most beautiful tree. The district's nature and environment department states that all municipalities with tree protection bylaws are responsible for their own trees. The district is only responsible for natural monuments in the form of individual trees or avenues. Nevertheless, the factual necessity of many of these pruning operations is questionable, especially when large healthy trees are pruned as a precautionary measure because a branch could possibly fall off and cause damage. Often, the real reason for these actions is the accumulating foliage or possible shading. Trees disfigured in this way lose their appearance, usually sprout again in an uncontrolled manner and require constant reworking. In cases of traffic safety, it is advisable to completely remove trees that have reached their biological age and to plant replacements in the same place or in a different location. Such an approach is not only more aesthetic, but also improves the acceptance of nature conservation in general. Trees in nature and the landscape should develop in their natural state. This also includes broken branches, which leave behind valuable habitats for native wildlife in the form of breeding holes.