Veränderungen des Baumbestandes an einem Abschnitt der Bundesstraße B185 im Landkreis Köthen (Sachsen-Anhalt) zwischen 1983 und 1998

Abstract

Road-side trees lining a section of the federal highway B 185 northwest of Köthen (Sachsen-Anhalt) were
counted and evaluated according to their vitality three times between 1983 and 1997/98. The results show a
dramatic decrease in the number of the trees. Reasons therefore are the Iack of tree management (especially
fruit trees) and the felling of many trees in connection with the road maintenance and road extension measures.
Whereas the removal of damaged and dead trees is justified, the cutdown of vital trees, in particular of more or
less complete rows (including fruit trees) has drastic effects. Newly planted trees provide, however, only an
inadequate compensation. In particular, this becomes apparent in sparsely structured and intensively used farm
Iands. Road-side trees play not only an important role in livening up the monotony of such agricultural areas but
they are also characteristic elements of our culturallandscape.