In southern and central Finland, soils are dry and lake levels are below average in many places. This week’s rains will not yet bring much relief.
In Vantaa, more street trees than usual have recently had to be felled because they were in poor condition or damaged by plant pests. Last summer, some trees died due to heat and drought.
Tree damage has been detected both during normal tree maintenance and during systematic tree condition surveys, according to a city press release.
In many areas of Vantaa, street trees were planted in the 1970s and 1980s on inadequate growing medium. As the trees have aged, damage caused by poor growing conditions has become increasingly common. It is precisely trees from this period that have now had to be removed more than normal.
For example, about 20 trees have had to be felled from the Lammaslammentie in Nähkinärinte during six months due to structural damage to the trees and plant pests.
The trees in Helsinki have also suffered from the dry summer.
This week’s rains will not yet ease the drought
In the whole of southern and central Finland, the soil is still dry and the water level of the lakes is clearly below average in many places, it is also reported on the Vesi.fi website. This week’s rains will not bring a big change to this yet, as the rains will largely soak into the dry soil.
The stress on trees is increased by weather conditions that have changed due to climate change and traffic emissions.
A wood expert is worried about how, for example, old trees over a hundred years old will fare in climate change.
– Warm weather brings more pests. For example, because of climate change, a letterpress has time to make two generations during the summer, so its spread in old groves is a risk, says Juha Raisio.
Street trees are not cut down in vain, because they bring both pleasure and benefit to the residents. Trees bind carbon, retain rainwater and thus prevent street flooding and increase biodiversity in the city as well.
However, in Raisio’s opinion, trees are not appreciated.
– When the city is compacted, we are wondering if a tree that we value will go. This is what we are concerned about.
He says that he has seen many plans where the plans for a new house do not include trees on the plot.
– Fine pine trees are felled when a cherry tree is drawn in the plans. In my opinion, there is a contradiction.
He also reminds us of the shade provided by trees, which can be very valuable in the future.
– This has not been awakened in Finland yet, as we value large windows to the south and west.
However, already in 2018, the city of Helsinki published an extensive report on what kind of risks climate change poses to the city, including trees.
For example, high temperatures and thus also dryness in summer are becoming more common. Winter is getting shorter, but strong snowstorms weigh down tree branches and if the ground is not covered in frost, trees fall more easily. As a result of intensifying heavy rains, the risk of stormwater flooding increases.