Trees for the future, roots for life - How trees and tree nurseries strengthen climate protection

Imagine a world where cities are overwhelmed by unbearable heat, rivers and lakes dry up, and air quality deteriorates to the point where it becomes difficult to breathe. A world where extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and storms become the norm. This is not a dystopian vision of the future, but a realistic scenario if climate change continues unabated and deforestation is not stopped.

Without trees acting as natural climate regulators, global temperatures would continue to rise to dangerous levels. Forests, which today still store huge amounts of carbon, could become sources of greenhouse gases through continued deforestation and environmental degradation, further exacerbating the climate crisis. The loss of trees and forests would not only accelerate the extinction of countless species, but would also endanger the survival of humans themselves.

Our lives could change drastically in the next few decades. Agricultural yields could fall dramatically, millions of people could lose their livelihoods, and increasing biodiversity loss could destabilize ecosystems that are critical to our survival. In a world without trees, the balance of our planet would be in serious danger.

But there is hope. Trees play a central role in climate protection and are indispensable players in the fight against climate change. Through their ability to store carbon dioxide (CO₂), they offer a natural and effective solution to reducing CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere. However, their importance goes beyond just binding CO₂. They contribute to climate stabilization in a variety of ways by having a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and human well-being.

4. Contribution and importance of tree nurseries in climate protection

Tree nurseries are of central importance in climate protection and are invaluable for maintaining and expanding green infrastructure. As places for the cultivation of woody plants, they successfully implement decisive measures in the context of climate protection and climate adaptation.

Provision of climate-resistant trees for urban areas - benefits for the climate:

Nurseries play a central role in the production and provision of climate-resistant trees that have been cultivated specifically for the conditions in urban areas. These woody plants are adapted to the unique challenges of urban areas, such as higher temperatures, limited soil availability, air pollution and irregular rainfall. Such climate-resilient trees and shrubs are crucial to ensuring that vegetation in cities can withstand current and future climatic conditions. Trees and green spaces in cities act as natural air conditioning systems by providing shade and lowering the ambient temperature through evaporation. In addition, they improve air quality by filtering pollutants and particulate matter and help reduce the “urban heat island effect,” which causes cities to be warmer compared to rural areas.

Provision of climate-resistant trees for urban areas - benefits for the population:

Greening urban environments not only provides environmental benefits, but also has significant positive impacts on people's well-being. Urban green spaces create recreational spaces that contribute to the physical and mental health of city residents. They offer space for leisure activities, promote social interaction and offer a retreat from urban stress. In addition, urban green spaces provide habitat for animals and promote biodiversity, which enriches the natural experience in the city and increases awareness of nature conservation. By cultivating these climate-resistant trees, tree nurseries help urban spaces not only become more resilient to the consequences of climate change, but also provide livable and healthy environments for people and nature in the long term.

Support for forest conversion and reforestation:

The forest conversion in Germany, necessary due to the challenges of climate change, would not be possible without the trees provided by tree nurseries. They provide the necessary plants for converting forests into resilient mixed forests that include both native and adapted non-native tree species. Tree nurseries are also indispensable in the reforestation of damaged areas, as they provide the trees that are needed to regenerate these ecosystems.

Economic and social significance:

With an annual production value of 1.3 billion euros and a cultivated area of ​​over 17,000 hectares, tree nurseries make a significant contribution to the German environmental economy. Their work not only supports climate protection, but also economic development, especially in rural regions. They contribute to securing biological diversity and creating a livable environment, which ultimately also promotes social prosperity.

6. Future perspectives and solutions

In order to fully exploit the role of trees in climate protection, it is essential that global and local strategies to restore and protect forests are consistently implemented and intensified. A central starting point is preventing further deforestation, especially in tropical regions. Protecting existing forests must be a top priority, which can be ensured through stricter laws, sustainable land use practices and support for indigenous rights.

In addition, reforestation programs should increasingly focus on sustainable principles. It is important to rely on diversified and native tree species to promote biodiversity and create resilient ecosystems.

In urban areas, greening plays a crucial role in combating the effects of urbanization and climate change. Cities must invest more in green infrastructure to improve the urban climate and increase the quality of life of residents. Trees in urban areas act as natural air conditioning systems by providing shade and cooling ambient temperatures through evaporation. At the same time, they help improve air quality by filtering pollutants and fine dust. This is particularly important as urbanization increases worldwide and urban heat islands, where temperatures are higher than surrounding rural areas, become more pronounced.