Plauen protects nature: old tree stumps become new habitats!

Plauen protects nature: old tree stumps become new habitats!

In Plauen, a new approach is being taken to caring for the city's greenery. Instead of removing old tree stumps, the city administration leaves them standing. The main actor in this initiative is a tree that was recently cut down on the banks of the Elster and is now labeled as a so-called habitat tree. This special tree helps maintain and even promote valuable habitats in urban areas. Another of these habitat trees can be admired in Luther Park, in the city center. And that's just the beginning - more habitat trees are to follow in order to sustainably support biodiversity.

What is behind the term “habitat tree”? As the Free press Reportedly, three lime trees were shortened during the maintenance of the avenue on the Elsterufer in order to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Massive fungal infestation was even discovered on one of the shortened trees. This makes it all the more important to leave the remaining tree stumps standing, as they provide habitat for numerous species.

The importance of habitat trees

Habitat trees are much more than just the remnants of a felled tree. They support at least one arboreal microhabitat, making them refuges for many species. These tree microhabitats can be created by various biotic and abiotic events, such as lightning or rockfall, which cause injury to the trunk. These structures are often used by specific species or communities during their life cycle. These are important feeding or wintering sites. The Pocket guide to tree microhabitats describes the different types of these habitats. In total there are 47 different types, divided into 15 groups and 7 forms, highlighting the diversity of habitats.

Identifying and maintaining these habitat structures is crucial to promoting biodiversity and the resilience of our forests. The concept is also supported by the Forest knowledge Platform supported, highlighting the need to develop a uniform assessment system for habitat trees. Such standardized methods are of great importance for monitoring and forest certification - after all, precise measures are needed to sustainably promote biological diversity.

Conclusion

Plauen leads by example. By leaving old tree stumps standing, not only is the safety of citizens maintained, but also a valuable living space is created. It will be exciting to see how many habitat trees will be preserved in the future and which species may settle in urban areas. With this approach, the city has a good hand when it comes to supporting the local flora and fauna while at the same time offering its citizens green added value.