Contributed: Seven trees to Worms graveyard
In a commendable act of environmental stewardship, BUND Worms, an environmental group, has donated native trees to Worms cemeteries. The donation aims to promote local biodiversity, enhance urban green spaces, and contribute positively to the city's climate resilience.
Promoting Native Biodiversity
Native trees support local insects, birds, and other animals more effectively than non-native species. By donating these trees, BUND Worms is helping to boost biodiversity in Worms' cemeteries, creating vital habitats for native wildlife.
Enhancing Urban Green Spaces
Cemeteries often have large green areas that can serve as important refuges for wildlife. The donated trees will enrich these spaces, providing food and shelter for native fauna, and contributing to the overall health of the city's ecosystem.
Climate Adaptation
Trees help moderate urban temperatures, sequester carbon dioxide, and improve air quality. By planting native and climate-resistant trees, BUND Worms is helping Worms adapt to climate change, making the city more resilient in the face of rising temperatures and extreme weather events.
Benefits of Native Trees in Worms Cemeteries
The donated trees will offer numerous benefits to the city. They will increase habitat diversity, improve ecosystem services, contribute to climate mitigation, and enrich the landscape, providing serene and ecologically valuable environments in the cemeteries.
Improved Habitat Diversity
By providing food and shelter for native fauna, the donated trees will boost biodiversity in Worms' cemeteries.
Improved Ecosystem Services
Trees contribute to soil stabilization, water retention, and natural pest control. The donated trees will help improve Worms' ecosystem services, making the city more sustainable and resilient.
Climate Mitigation
By absorbing CO₂, the donated trees will help reduce Worms' carbon footprint. Their shade will also lower heat stress for both people and wildlife, contributing to a cooler, more comfortable city.
Aesthetic and Cultural Value
Native trees enrich the landscape, offering a serene and ecologically valuable environment in the cemeteries. The donated trees will not only benefit the city's ecosystem but also contribute to the city's aesthetic and cultural value.
The Donation Process
The BUND chose seven native and climate-resistant tree species for the donation: hornbeam, hawthorn, wild service tree, elderberry, English oak, sweet chestnut, and manna maple. Over a ton of waste was collected during the waste collection action of the Worms Waste and Building Management (ebwo), generating the money needed for the trees.
Planting the Trees
The trees were planted in the spring at the main cemetery Hochheimer Height and the Pfeddersheim cemetery. Representatives of the BUND, the city, and Worms' urban development commissioner Timo Horst (SPD) inspected the trees together.
A Lasting Legacy
Michael Leukam, chairman of the BUND local group Worms, stated that native tree species are particularly important for biodiversity because they feed ten to a hundred times more insects and birds than trees from other continents. The donated trees serve as "living monuments," helping to keep the memory of the deceased alive.
Gratiitude
Urban development commissioner Timo Horst expressed gratitude for the donated trees, stating that they will significantly improve the quality of stay in Worms. The city is grateful for BUND Worms' commitment to sustainability and their efforts to integrate ecological sustainability into the city’s cultural spaces.
Science and Environmental Education
The donation process offered an opportunity for science and environmental education, as the BUND selected native and climate-resistant tree species for the donation. This provides a chance for locals to learn about the importance of native trees and their role in promoting biodiversity.
Lifestyle and Home Improvement
Home and garden enthusiasts can take inspiration from the donation, considering how they too can contribute to their local ecosystems by incorporating native tree species into their own outdoor spaces. This action can foster a more sustainable and environmentally conscious lifestyle.
