European City of Arboriculture Designation Conferred Upon Hamburg
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg was honoured with the title of "European City of Trees 2025" by the European Arboricultural Council (EAC) on July 4, 2025, during the annual meeting held in Bonn. This prestigious award recognises Hamburg's exceptional efforts in urban tree management and adaptation to climate change.
Katharina Fegebank, Second Mayor and Senator for Environment, Climate, Energy, and Agriculture, accepted the award with a sense of both pride and responsibility. For her, the ECOT Award is not merely recognition but a challenge to secure and further expand the status quo achieved. She emphasised that Hamburg's trees are a crucial part of its green infrastructure and an important factor for its urban climate.
Hamburg's commitment to its trees extends beyond its 3,200 hectares of parks and green spaces. Over 30,000 of its approximately 230,000 street trees are over 80 years old, with half being over 100 years old. This longevity is a testament to Hamburg's long-standing leadership in urban tree management, with the first German tree protection ordinance originating in the Hanseatic city in 1948.
Jan Goevert, chairman of the ECOT working group in the EAC, was particularly impressed by Hamburg's protection of trees on construction sites. He cited the "Trees in the City in the Face of Climate Change" project as a significant contributing factor to Hamburg's ECOT award. This project aims to ensure the survival and growth of urban trees in the face of climate change, making Hamburg a model for other European cities.
The city's commitment to sustainability is also evident in the greening of Hamburg companies. Green Kayak, a local company, has drawn a positive balance from their green initiatives. The comprehensive information system for climate change in Hamburg also offers new insights, further solidifying Hamburg's position as a leader in urban sustainability.
The ECOT Award serves as a reminder that Hamburg's work is far from over. As Katharina Fegebank emphasised, the award is a challenge to secure and further expand the status quo achieved. With its rich history of tree management and its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Hamburg is well-positioned to meet this challenge and continue to serve as an exemplary model for other European cities.
For further information about this topic, please refer to the press release provided.
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