Increased Citizen Contribution: A Growing Number of Individuals Are Donating Trees Towards Enhancing Neusser Climate
In the picturesque city of Neuss, a contentious issue has arisen concerning the compensatory tree planting after the felling of trees for infrastructure projects. According to Deputy Mayor for Environment, Climate, and Sports, Dr. Matthias Welpmann, the tree stock in Neuss has reversed the trend in 2023, with around 751 trees being planted, almost 2.3 times as many as the number of trees felled in the same year. However, residents of North City are expressing dissatisfaction with this compensatory measure.
The reasons for this dissatisfaction are multifaceted. Residents often express concerns about the delay or inadequacy in replacement, as new trees may take many years to replace the ecological benefits and canopy lost from mature trees being felled. Additionally, issues arise when new plantings do not match the original trees' species diversity or are planted in less suitable locations.
Transparency and community involvement are also crucial factors. Residents might feel excluded from decision-making or that compensatory measures are tokenistic. Furthermore, the aesthetic and environmental benefits of mature trees, such as shade and air quality improvements, are often lost when saplings are planted in place of mature trees.
In the case of North City, residents have been troubled by the lack of one-to-one on-site compensatory planting, as well as the fact that sponsored trees are not planted in the same location as the felled trees. Sponsors have the power to select the location for their sponsored tree, which may exacerbate the issue of species selection and location.
It is important to note that the main causes of felling in Neuss in the past year have been the acute drought damage from the heat summers of 2018 to 2022 and the losses due to the oak bark beetle disease. A large part of the funds for tree care in Neuss is still used for restoring traffic safety, with the felling of dead trees and removal of dead wood being the main focuses.
For those interested in supporting the tree planting initiatives, tree sponsorship is available for a cost of 500 euros, securing a "personal tree." Sponsored trees are being planted on streets, in parks, green areas, or playgrounds, and a personal dedication sign can be set up on a natural wood post next to the sponsored tree. More than 70 individual trees were sponsored in Neuss in 2023.
Compensatory planting for the felling in Pine Grove, North City, will take place in the area "Am Millischgraben" in Holzheim and a compensation area in Elsen. A donation receipt is provided for tree sponsorship, which can be claimed for tax return.
As the city continues to prioritise tree planting initiatives, it is crucial to address the concerns of residents and ensure that compensatory measures are both effective and equitable. By involving the community in decision-making and ensuring that new plantings are both species-appropriate and strategically located, the city can help to alleviate the dissatisfaction felt by residents like those in North City.
- The dissatisfaction in North City arises not only from the delay or inadequacy in replacing trees, but also from concerns about the mismatch of species diversity and less suitable locations for new plantings.
- To address these concerns, it's essential to involve the community in decision-making and ensure that new plantings are not only species-appropriate but also strategically located, so as to preserve the aesthetic and environmental benefits often lost when saplings replace mature trees.
- Residents in North City are troubled by the lack of on-site compensatory planting and the ability of sponsors to select the location for their sponsored tree, which may exacerbate issues related to species selection and location.
