Dresden (dpa / sn) - According to the Dresden forest scientist Ulrich Pietzarka, cities in particular need resistant tree species in the face of climate change. The expert explained on Wednesday in Dresden that sweetgum, red maple or tupelo trees could soon be found more often in the cityscape. "They are more robust against drought and also have a particularly decorative coloring in autumn." Trees in the city centers and along roads are already particularly affected because they are not prepared for extreme weather conditions such as prolonged drought and heat.
In the forest, on the other hand, the proportion of non-native species will probably be lower, Pietzarka estimated. But here, too, the forest scientists at the Technical University of Dresden (TU) are looking for high-performing species from North America. The already established Douglas fir, the Californian river cedar or the Colorado fir are options. It is considered certain that spruce monocultures are a thing of the past.
Pietzarka heads the forest botanical garden of the TU Dresden in Tharandt. There, tree species are researched that are better adapted to the current climate changes. Risks that can be associated with foreign tree species also play a role. If the plants turn out to be invasive, they could invade other environmental systems and adversely affect them, it said. It is also examined whether the trees pose a threat to the infrastructure or whether their pollen causes allergies.
