In Debrecen, there are many trees of significant value or historical importance. The number, age, and size of the protected trees perfectly reflect the nature conservation efforts of the city, the municipality says in its announcement.
As they say, the condition of the individuals of the protected gömbkőris row on Péterfia Street has been monitored and treated with special attention for years (rejuvenating pruning, watering, nutrient supply). In recent years, we have noticed a sudden, drastic deterioration of the condition of several individuals of the row of trees, so for the sake of professional treatment, we previously asked for a phytosanitary and now a horticultural expert opinion.
The presumed cause of the death of the trees is an aggressive, pathogenic fungus that entered the country just over 10 years ago, the ash blight (ash bark necrosis).
The causative agent causes death by subsidence in the bark of young shoots and trunk parts, which, spreading further, causes the complete death of the phloem, cambium, and finally the wood tissues, the transport tissues, and the destruction of the tree. A significant part of the symptoms typically caused by the fungus can also be found on the damaged individuals of the protected gömbkőris tree line. There is currently no targeted control method against the pathogen, the condition of the trees must be improved, in addition to providing water, by using biostimulators and plant protection treatments containing organic substances that can be applied to foliage and mixed into the soil. The treatment nourishes the roots of the tree, revitalizes the soil life participants (mainly useful soil bacteria), and strengthens the tissues and cells of the foliage.
Taking the above into account, it became necessary to cut down these trees (the 4 dead/deteriorated trees) on the Bem tér section of Péterfia Street, therefore, the cutting works were carried out keeping in mind the interests of plant health (protection of the remaining trees in the tree line), as well as the protection of life and property, and they are ordered from the point of view of pedestrian and vehicle traffic safety.
The trees to be removed will be replaced immediately with saplings made of spherical stone. The management of the protected tree line will continue to be carried out with special attention, in order to care for and preserve the natural monument.
There are 37 protected trees and rows of trees in Debrecen, which are continuously monitored and cared for by the green areas department of the mayor’s office. Most recently, in June 2018, we expanded the range of protected trees and rows of trees, so the general assembly decided to declare 8 trees and rows of trees as protected by amending the relevant decree. Since June 2018, among other things, the 2 hanging Japanese acacia trees in front of the Csokonai Theater and the three-year-old pedunculated oak tree in Bem tér have been protected.
Since June 2019, a nature conservation management plan included in a unique local decree at the national level regulates the management and maintenance of protected natural monuments, protected trees and tree rows.
During the management of urban protected trees and rows of trees, we do everything possible to ensure that, as far as is possible, the long-term preservation of the appropriate health status of the trees (regular visual inspection, monitoring of the health status, instrumented tree inspection, maintenance pruning and pruning performed by a specialist contractor, den treatments, static reinforcements, irrigation, nutrient supply). The Debrecen municipality announced that we will decide on the maintenance of the protected trees in consultation with the head gardener, as well as with a certified tree inspector and tree care engineer, and, if necessary, with the involvement of an ecologist, horticulturist, or plant medicine expert.
Debrecen City Hall
