Nuremberg is fighting drought: more water needed for city trees!

Nuremberg is fighting drought: more water needed for city trees!

What a dry summer in Nuremberg this year! The persistent heat and drought are taking a toll on city trees. According to the city, irrigation measures are no longer sufficient to save around 10,000 trees in the city. The public space service company (Sör) has therefore increased its watering operations in the last few weeks to an astonishing ten additional passes per week, but this is not enough. The city portal also informs that Nuremberg's sandy soil stores water poorly, which accelerates the drying out of the trees and bushes.

An appeal to citizens is essential. The city calls for trees in the immediate area to be watered in the morning or evening. This initiative is particularly important in densely populated areas. Wind and persistent heat cause unprotected soil to dry out more quickly. The city plans to fill tree slices with special substrates and plant them with ground cover to better protect the valuable city trees.

Massive additional measures for tree irrigation

In the past few weeks, concrete investments have also been made in optimal watering. The city administration has used additional vehicles totaling around 450,000 euros for tree watering. These five new vehicles are similar to those normally used for mowing meadows and green spaces. The capacity of around 7,000 liters of water is currently being used to supply around 140 trees within the old town ring with water every day.

The districts between the Old Town Ring and the Middle Ring also benefit from another casting vehicle. In particular, the trees in large green areas such as the Hallerwiese, the Cramer-Klett-Park and the Archive Park are regularly supplied with water. In order to specifically support young trees and replanting, external specialist companies were also commissioned to provide additional watering at night and in the early hours of the morning.

Forest fire danger and creative solutions

The situation is certainly alarming - the ongoing drought not only endangers city trees, but also increases the risk of forest fires in Middle Franconia. Mayor Christian Vogel emphasizes the need for creativity and flexibility in the use of resources in times of climate change. This includes the innovative reuse of swimming pool water that is no longer needed. These solutions are part of a larger project that addresses the effects of climate change on water availability in Germany, as the Federal Environment Agency explains in its project “Impact of climate change on water availability – adaptation to dryness and drought in Germany”.

The results of this project are crucial for analyzing future water use conflicts and developing sustainable solutions to avoid these conflicts. It remains exciting to see what innovative approaches the city of Nuremberg will develop in order to continue to preserve its green treasure.

The current situation clearly shows that all actors - from the city administration to citizens to experts - must make a joint effort to ensure the survival of city trees under these challenging conditions. Together we can ensure that our city stays green, even in heat and drought.

Further information can be found on the City of Nuremberg website here, in the Nuremberg News here and at the Federal Environment Agency here.