RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Urban Forestry in the Federal Republic of Germany
JF Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
JO JOA
FD International Society of Arboriculture
SP 281
OP 286
DO 10.48044/jauf.1980.068
VO 6
IS 11
A1 Hans G. Schabel
YR 1980
UL http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/6/11/281.abstract
AB Every third person in West Germany lives in a large city with a population of more than 100,000. In some areas population densities approach 5,500 persons per square kilometer! In spite of the resulting pressures, German cities are generally considered very livable places. Urban foresters share the credit for contributing to the enhancement of the quality of living through their professional involvement.In the sense of providing on a sustained basis multiple benefits to city people, urban forests in Germany have been in existence for at least 50 years. However, events as far back as 600 years ago help explain certain aspects of these forests. The most dramatic changes and developments leading to Germany’s contemporary “green” cities took place after WW II. Reconstruction of the war-ravaged, overpopulated cities led to urban renewal guided by concerted urban planning which tries to integrate traditional and modern, architectural, social, political, infra-structural and environmental considerations. As a result of the urban planning process, the urban forest in many German cities is a composite of three distinct components: the peripheral green belt and radial spokes together with other inner city green spaces. These components are serving product (timber), environmental (noise and air pollution abatement, climate modification, watershed protection) and recreational functions to variable degrees.