TU Dresden’s student environmental initative has been advocating for ecological sustainability for over 30 years. They came up with the idea for the tree sponsorship initiative on TU Dresden's campus and were among the first sponsors.

The Norway maple is a deciduous, broadleaf tree with a wide crown that can grow to a height of 20 to 30 meters. It can reach an age of about 150 to a maximum of 200 years.

Against the backdrop of increasingly dry summers as a result of climate change, the Norway maple is regarded as a suitable tree for dry and very dry locations and has an increasingly important role in forest conversion. Due to its resistance to industrial pollution, it is often used to provide greenery in urban areas. The flowering period lasts from April to May and begins before the leaves sprout. As an important nutrient plant for bees, butterflies and birds, the Norway maple fulfills valuable ecological functions.