15,000 trees will make Stockholm green

March 13, 2010 by timbercommunity

It is time for a new tree standard. Stockholm is Europe's first green capital and the City Council will take decisions on a new master plan. The conservative majority in the City Hall want to include new planting of one tree for each newly built home. On a four years period this means 15 000 new trees.

Today one parking space per apartment has become the norm for new construction of apartments. The idea is to have a  tree standard in the same way as the car park. Similarly one tree per new apartment will be planted. The trees can either be planted as a park or street trees and contribute to both more greenery and better air. With a newly planted tree per new home 15 000 new trees will be planted over the next four years.  The addition of trees also have very positive effects on climate. These additional trees will every year raise as much carbon dioxide as 300 Stockholmers produced by their journeys, their consumption and energy consumption.
-When we think it important to present a green city planning strategy for next term. The city is growing and people are more, which increases the need for parks and green spaces, "said  Kristina Alvendal.
The strategy rests on several cornerstones. The project does not mean that  trees are planted just where the new homes are being built. The location is governed by the development agreement, "explains Kristina Alvendal.  -There are good examples in other cities on how to organize so-called pocket parks. It could simply be a small corner, achieving grass and plant some trees.