Hamburg’s Old Trees Grow More Valuable, and Expensive

Hamburg officials report an increase in street trees, over 231,000, for the first time in years, but maintaining this “green climate system” is becoming costlier. The city’s latest tree census shows 1863 new trees planted on public land, exceeding the 1511 felled.

While districts like Altona, Hamburg-Nord, Wandsbek and Hamburg-Mitte saw net gains, others like Eimsbüttel, Bergedorf and Harburg experienced losses. Torsten Melzer, Hamburg’s city tree manager, emphasizes the challenge of protecting mature trees and ensuring young trees thrive, especially given increasingly harsh conditions like drought and heat.

The city is investing in site preparation and sensor-based irrigation, while also prioritizing the preservation of its 31,500 trees over 80 years old, which provide significant cooling effects. However, maintaining the tree population requires ongoing funding.

A single street tree costs around 3,600 euros, and while districts receive 500,000 euros annually for planting, supplemental funding is needed to maintain the positive tree balance. The city faces a crucial decision to ensure sufficient resources for long-term tree care and uphold its commitment to preserving Hamburg’s green heritage.