New ordinance

More protection for trees in the city of Salzburg

The amendment to the 1992 Tree Protection Ordinance comes into force with immediate effect. More trees will be placed under protection in the provincial capital in future. This is the city's response to climate change.

"It is high time to act! Protecting our trees is essential to counteract climate change and increasing heatwaves. They help to cool down our cities and make a decisive contribution to mitigating the effects of extreme temperatures," explains Planning Councillor Anna Schiester (Citizens' List).

One of the key innovations concerns the trunk circumference above which trees are placed under protection. Previously, the decision as to when protection applied varied depending on the type of tree (e.g. yew from 50 cm, spruce from 120 cm). From now on, it will be uniformly determined that all deciduous and coniferous trees with a trunk circumference of at least 55 cm are protected. This also applies to multi-stemmed trees if the circumferences together reach this value.

A further point provides for "climate-fit" trees for initial planting. For example, more Norway maples and winter lime trees are to be planted. These are better able to cope with warming and drought.