Climate change impacts gardens: anticipated taxation on affected land.
Let's Talk Climate Change: Tackling Trees and Parks in Brandenburg
Brandenburg parks, like Park Babelsberg and Branitzer Park, are under fire from our changing climate. As a result, the state is stepping up to support measures that help these gardens evolve and cope with the new weather conditions. Culture Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) recently announced funding decisions totaling around 6.2 million euros to the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG) and the Stiftung Fürst-Pückler-Museum - Park and Schloss Branitz.
Climate Change Takes a Bite out of Trees
Christoph Martin Vogtherr, general director of the SPSG, sums it up: "We've got a massive problem on our hands." With Park Babelsberg looking more like a barren steppe than a lush garden, he's certainly not kidding. The latest storm didn't spare the park, causing considerable damage. Vogtherr estimates over 80% of the trees in the park have suffered some sort of injury. Whole patches of woodland in Potsdam have already collapsed.
Lending a Helping Hand
The funds will be used for various purposes, one of which is setting up a tree nursery in Park Babelsberg. There are also plans for a composting area. To retain water in the park, expansion work on paths that often succumb to erosion during heavy rains is in the works. Additionally, shafts and infiltration trenches are being constructed to help with water retention. The SPSG will receive around 2 million euros from the funding.
The larger Branitzer Park, with almost double the acreage of Babelsberg Park, will receive approximately 4.1 million euros. Plans for a large tree nursery are also in the works there, with new greenhouses being built and some existing ones refurbished. Research will also be carried out on irrigation methods and resilient tree species on the site.
Since 2021, climate-adapted trees have been cultivated in the Branitzer Park, and the model project Baumuniversität will be expanded. Stefan Körner, head of the Stiftung Fürst-Pückler-Museum - Park and Schloss Branitz, says they plan to grow resilient trees on site in collaboration with Humboldt-Universität Berlin.
Tackling the Climate Change Frontier in Brandenburg's Parks
Climate-adaptation efforts in Brandenburg's parks extend beyond just Babelsberg and Branitzer. Due to rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, forests and parks in the region are expected to undergo a shift towards mixed forests composed mostly of smaller, broad-leaved species that can better withstand changing climatic conditions. Community engagement and educational programs are also crucial, with citizen awareness being raised about the effects of climate change through tour programs, much like those in Park Sanssouci. Furthermore, strategic planning and funding for the preservation and enhancement of park landscapes play a role in the region's wider efforts to combat climate change impacts on park trees and ecosystems.
Sources:
- UNESCO World Heritage Site Climate Change Guidance: Management Strategies for the Sustainable Conservation of World Heritage Properties. [Available at: http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/convention/documents/2014/climate-change-guidance-07.pdf]
- Brandenburg's Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change
- Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in the Urban Forests of Brandenburg
- Trends in Climate and Weather Extremes Over Central Europe
- Brandenburg Forest and Landscape Conservation Programme
Science plays a crucial role in addressing climate change impact on Brandenburg's parks. The funds are being used to establish a tree nursery and research irrigation methods in both Park Babelsberg and Branitzer Park, drawing upon environmental science expertise. Financial support is also being provided for energy-efficient infrastructures such as greenhouses and irrigation systems, leveraging resources from the industry to combat climate change. As the region moves forward in adapting to climate change, collaboration with institutions like Humboldt-Universität Berlin becomes integral in the cultivation of resilient tree species for the parks, reinforcing the connection between climate-change, finance, and environmental-science.
