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Giant trees in Littenweiler have to go: protest against deforestation!
Trees in Littenweiler are to be felled to make space for new buildings. Critics warn of CO2 loss and call for more environmental participation.
Giant trees in Littenweiler have to go: protest against deforestation!
On July 17, 2025, it was announced that nine large and old trees were to be felled on the grounds of the St. Alban student residence in Littenweiler. This measure, which has already been approved by the local council, is related to the archdiocese's plans to build three new buildings there. Among the trees affected are three sequoia trees with trunk circumferences of around 3.5 to 4.5 meters, which fall under the city's tree protection ordinance. These trees are of great importance to the local ecosystem as they store significant amounts of CO2.
The decision to clear the land met with strong criticism. The Freiburg Lebenswert municipal council group said in a press release that the clearing was not only ecologically questionable, but also raised the question of why the environmental department was not included in the process. Wolf-Dieter Winkler from Freiburg Lebenswert emphasized that the trees' high CO2 storage abilities could not be replaced by new planting.
Information event on deforestation
In order to inform residents and interested parties about the background to the deforestation, the Ordinariate of the Archdiocese is inviting people to an information event. This will take place on Friday, July 18th, at 5 p.m. in the foyer of the St. Alban House at Reinhold-Schneiderstraße 37. In this context, the plans and how to deal with the protected trees should be explained.
Trees as CO2 storage
The importance of trees for climate protection cannot be overestimated. According to that waldwissen.net Research into the exact contribution of trees to climate protection has been an issue for years. However, information is often confusing and difficult to apply for laypeople. The LWF leaflet No. 27 therefore offers key figures and calculation models that record the total living biomass of a tree or stand, including the roots.
Although dead wood, regeneration and soil are not included in the calculation models, they still contribute significantly to the CO2 balance and should be included in the overall assessment of forests. Against this background, the planned clearing of trees at the St. Alban dormitory raises questions that are important not only locally, but also in a larger environmental context.