375 year old oak in Blasewitz: Felling for security reasons!

375 year old oak in Blasewitz: Felling for security reasons!

A sad day for the tree lovers in Dresden: On Sunday, a 375-year-old stem oak on Hüblerstrasse in Blasewitz was felled. The tree had been protected since 1938 and was one of the city's natural monuments. But despite its age, the oak was sick and suffered from mushroom attack, which finally led to this drastic decision. The environmental agency came to the conclusion that all possible measures were taken to save the tree. But the security of the residents was proceeding. Environmental manager René Herold confirmed that there was already an expert opinion from an expert that made the felling necessary so as not to endanger the public traffic area, even if felling are actually not allowed from March to September.

The oak, which was around 23 meters high, was a risk for the passing vehicles. In order to meet the species protection law requirements, a specialist in the environmental office will be on site during the felling work. These started on Sunday morning at 8 a.m., and Hüblerstrasse was fully blocked in this area in order to be able to carry out the work safely.

a part stops

Despite the felling of the oak, part of the tree trunk stops. An important reason: two young stars who have found their habitat there. This part of the tribe is only to be shortened when the young animals are fledged. This ensures that the birds are not impaired.

But there are also positive news about the city trees in Dresden. The environmental office plans to plant a new tree in autumn 2025 or spring 2026, which is specially adapted to the changed climate conditions. The change in the climate represents new challenges for the city greening, and the replacement tree should be part of a larger plan to adapt the urban landscape.

The green lungs of the city

In Dresden there are currently a total of 79 tree-natural monuments-60 deciduous trees and 19 conifers. These trees are not only important oxygen suppliers, but also habitat for many animal species. The water balance in the forests and the adaptation of dry periods are becoming increasingly important in order to increase the resilience of the forests. The city has also committed itself to the forest conversion as part of the EU initiatives in order to increase the structure of the tree species and to promote mixed forests. Above all, the planting of heat and dry-tolerant tree species is a step in the right direction.

Such measures are necessary in order to better manage future challenges through climate change and other environmental factors. Mixed forests offer several advantages: They are more resistant to pests and diseases and help to reduce the risk of forest fire. In the sense of sustainable urban development, it is therefore essential that attention is paid to the home tree species even in the case of new plantings.