German Environmental Aid: Nearly One Million Trees Lost from German Cities

Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), a German environmental organization, released a report on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, indicating that nearly one million trees have vanished from German cities over a seven-year period. The study found that more than 900,000 trees were lost from 195 cities with over 50,000 inhabitants between 2018 and 2025.

The "Hitze-Check 2026" report also analyzed the extent of urban vegetation cover and the increase in land sealing. Only seven cities met the scientifically recommended tree canopy coverage of 30 percent at heights above 2.5 meters. Cities such as Offenburg, Lahr, and Mannheim were identified as performing poorly in terms of heat protection, while Kiel and Wuppertal were highlighted as positive examples.

DUH is calling on Federal Minister for Building, Verena Hubertz, and Health Minister, Nina Warken, to urgently implement an effective heat protection master plan with binding standards for urban green spaces. The organization emphasizes the "3-30-300 rule," which suggests residents should be able to see at least three trees from their homes, live in an area with 30 percent tree canopy, and be within 300 meters of a green space.

Barbara Metz, DUH's federal managing director, stated that the federal government is being passive in the face of climate crisis impacts. She criticized government policies that promote land sealing through new construction projects. Metz stressed that the loss of trees is turning cities into "inhospitable concrete deserts" and urged ministers to implement binding measures to reduce land sealing and increase urban greenery.