Sendling in the tree crisis: Negative balance and unclear reports!

Sendling in the tree crisis: Negative balance and unclear reports!

At a recent meeting of the Sendlingen District Committee (BA) on October 15, 2025, the tree situation in the district of the same name was discussed intensively. A worrying negative tree balance emerged. A total of 2,100 trees were felled in 2024, while only 4,500 new trees were planted. This results in a surplus of around 2,400 trees, which is anything but rosy for the district's green lung. What is particularly critical is the possibility for private property owners to be able to buy their way out of the obligation to plant replacement plants, which further increases the negative balance.

The tree protection officer Florentine Schiemenz from the ÖDP expressed her discomfort at the meeting about the inadequate control of replacement plantings during approved tree felling. An application to the building department, which was accepted unanimously, now calls for a comprehensive inventory of the trees as well as information on subsequent and replacement planting as well as the frequency of purchases.

Conflicting reports and quality controls

Another point of discussion was the handling of contradictory reports on the condition of five old trees at Lindenschmitstrasse 25. While one report classifies the trees as diseased, another sees four of the five trees as healthy. This raises questions about quality assurance in tree reports, which the district committee also wanted to shed light on. The members of the BA demanded clarification from the Local Building Commission (LBK) about how such different assessments are to be guaranteed.

The topics of tree protection and sustainable urban design are now more in demand than ever. For new buildings, as stadt.muenchen.de reports, existing trees must be taken into account in the planning phase. This also includes submitting a tree inventory plan and an open space design plan that provides for new plantings. Protective measures for the tree population are of utmost importance and should be specified in the building permit process.

Protecting city trees

However, not every tree in the city is protected. According to the Bund for Nature Conservation, an official permit must be presented if felling is imminent. During the growing season from March to September, the felling of trees and other trees without appropriate reason is prohibited, except for measures ordered by the authorities.

The discussion in the district committee and the measures taken to improve the tree population in Sendling show that the city is actively working towards a greener future. In addition, an application to plant tree slices on Harras and the surrounding streets was approved by a majority, which gives hope for a lively green space in the city.