Even the autumn drizzle can’t diminish the splash of color of the American sugar maples and sweet birches. These and over five hundred other species of tree in the North American section of the Forest Park Tharandt presented a dazzling display of red, orange, yellow and green when Wolfram Günther, Saxony’s State Minister for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture (SMEKUL), came to visit on October 14.

© TUD/Anne Vetter

Guided by Prof. Andreas Roloff, Chair of Forest Botany at TU Dresden and Director of the Forest Park, the State Minister toured the biodiversity of the park’s new section, which was established and planted just 20 years ago.  

The pair also viewed the historic portion of the park as well as the Schweizerhaus (Swiss House), where they discussed their experiences with non-native species of tree and how they are to be handled, in particular with a view to climate change.

Environmental education represented another important item on the day’s agenda. For nearly 25 years, the Forest Park has offered the forest education workshop SYLVATICON in coordination with the public enterprise Sachsenforst. Over 85,000 children and adolescents have taken part in over 3,400 of these events, which remain relevant today and whose success must be perpetuated.

Following the State Minister’s visit, Prof. Roloff recognized the many common concerns shared by the Ministry and forestry, stating, “Trees can contribute significantly to resolving environmental issues and challenges. Not only do they sequester CO₂ and cool and filter the air, but they also serve as a source of mental and physical well-being for people. In addition to forests, urban green spaces and trees play an important role. So, I would be delighted to expand on our collaboration with joint projects and initiatives.”

State Minister Wolfram Günther visits the Forest Park Tharandt (from left to right): Dr. Ullrich Scheidereit, Head of the SMEKUL’s Forestry Unit; Prof. Andreas Roloff; Prof. Hans-Gerd Maas, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences; Mandy Arndt, Faculty Administrator of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences; Dr. Ulrich Pietzarka, Forest Park Curator; Prof. Karsten Kalbitz, Speaker of the Forest Sciences Department Commission; Prof. Lars Bernard, CDIO Extended University Executive Board, Prof. Goddert von Oheimb, Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation; and Wolfram Günther.

© TUD/Anne Vetter

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