Key Takeaways
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An innovative app in Berlin allows residents to adopt and water local street trees to protect them during summer heatwaves.
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The open-source platform maps roughly 900,000 trees, providing users with real-time watering needs based on species, weather, and age.
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The successful initiative has inspired similar community-driven tree care programs in several other European cities.
Community-driven app saves city trees from extreme heat
In Berlin, residents are taking urban conservation into their own hands with the help of an innovative open-source application. The app, which roughly translates to “water your neighborhood,” allows locals to adopt and care for city trees as if they were their own pets. As Europe faces increasingly severe summer heatwaves, this community-driven effort is helping keep the city green and providing vital cooling effects for its inhabitants.
The platform maps out approximately 900,000 street trees across Berlin as interactive GPS pins. When users sign up to adopt a tree, they receive real-time watering instructions tailored to the tree’s species, age, location, and current weather data. Trees in urgent need of water appear as orange or red dots on the map, and users are also shown the locations of nearby public water taps and pumps to make the task easier.
Launched in 2020, the initiative gained immense popularity as residents sought safe ways to connect with nature. The gamified experience encourages civic duty while making it fun and engaging. The application has been so successful that its open-source code has already been utilized to launch similar versions in other European cities, including Potsdam, Leipzig, Magdeburg, and the 17th arrondissement of Paris.
Urban trees are increasingly recognized as essential infrastructure. Beyond their aesthetic value, they provide crucial shade, improve air quality, and significantly reduce city temperatures on hot days. Studies highlight that healthy urban tree canopies can lower healthcare costs, improve psychological well-being, and offer a much-needed sensory respite from the concrete jungle.
