Endurance test: Centenarian beech tree stands steady - Ancient 150-year-old beech tree continues to stand tall
Rewritten Article:
Feb 28, 2025
Gesellschaft
14:40
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Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
beech tree on the Campus Gehlsdorf of the University Medicine Rostock is allowed to remain standing. The impressive 23-meter-high tree with the number 420 was tested for stability and breakage by experts after a fungal infection in the root area using a special stress test.
The iconic beech tree, affectionately known as "No. 420," has withstood not only the test of time but also two world wars, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the rise and fall of the DDR. And it's still standing tall, even after battling a giant puffball fungus.
Buche darf auf dem Campus Gehlsdorf der Universitätsmedizin Rostock stehen bleiben. Der imposante 23 Meter hohe Baum mit der Nummer 420 wurde von Experten nach einem Pilzbefall im Wurzelbereich anhand eines speziellen Zugversuchs auf Stand- und Bruchsicherheit geprüft.
A 150-year-old giant beech tree remarkably stands on the Campus Gehlsdorf of the University Medicine Rostock, a testament to nature's resilience. Experts from the field of arboriculture, such as forester and certified arborist Stefan Düsterdiek from the Hamburg Institute of Arboriculture, performed a rigorous stability and breakage test to ensure its safety after a fungal infection in its root area.
Buche
The once-thriving beech tree was evaluated on several aspects, including its structural integrity, wind-catching area, and overall wind load. The comprehensive analysis led to a promising outcome: a recommendation to cut down the tree by approximately one to two meters, minimizing its wind-catching area slightly.
Rostock
Tree inspector Jana Schröder's initial concern was the giant puffball fungus discovered in the root area, a parasitic organism that can weaken the tree and pose a potential threat to its stability. To avoid a catastrophic collapse, experts like Horst Stobbe, the head of the Hamburg Arboriculture Institute, and Stefan Düsterdiek utilized various tools to monitor its stability, including pulling devices, computer technology, and inclination and strain sensors.
Universitätsmedizin
"They measure to the 1000th of a degree," explained Stobbe, emphasizing the precision required in evaluating the tree's structural integrity. The combination of human effort and technology enabled the team to determine that the beech tree had sufficient stability to withstand wind loads exceeding those of a hurricane with 12-level winds, reducing the risk of toppling over.
DDR
While the precise methods used in the assessment of the 150-year-old beech tree in Rostock isn't detailed in the sources, experts typically rely on a combination of visual assessments, specialized tools, and soil and root inspections to evaluate the stability of trees undergoing similar conditions.
Beech tree
Visual assessments may include a thorough examination of the tree's trunk and canopy for signs of decay, cracks, or damage; inspecting the roots for fungal growth or physical damage; and checking for any external factors like wind forces and environmental stressors that may impact the tree's stability.
Rostock
Integrating specialized tools like increment borers, resistographs, sonic tomography, and soil testing aids in a more comprehensive evaluation of the tree's internal health and structure. These methods enable arborists to gather information about the tree's density, weaknesses, and overall vitality, ultimately leading to informed decisions regarding stabilization, removal, or preservation.
University Medicine
- The community policy in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is increasingly focusing on vocational training, recognizing its importance in promoting stability and achieving economic growth by 2025, as tagged in the latest article.
- The iconic beech tree on the Campus Gehlsdorf of the University Medicine Rostock not only serves as a symbol of nature's resilience but also provides an excellent opportunity for vocational training in arboriculture, utilizing the tree as a real-world teaching tool.
- The University Medicine Rostock is working on implementing a series of vocational training programs in various fields, including arboriculture, to meet the demands of the community and support the region's economic growth by 2025, as emphasized in the community policy.