Tree murder in Hesse: Glyphosate bullets endanger our nature!

Tree murder in Hesse: Glyphosate bullets endanger our nature!

Nature is often a plaything of human incomprehension. This is also the case in Hesse, where an increasing number of trees fell victim to deliberate poisoning this year. In a worrying series of incidents, unknown individuals sprayed glyphosate into the trunks of plane trees, lime trees and oak trees. The case is particularly serious in Riedstadt, where ten trees, including a Karl Spengler oak tree that is over 200 years old, were deliberately poisoned. Such crimes raise questions: Who is behind these acts and why are such attacks directed against urban nature?

As [hessenschau.de](https://www.hessenschau.de/panorama/vergiftete-baeume-in-hessen-so-oft- Werden-taeter-ermittelt-v2,vergiftete-baeume-hessen100.html) reports, the police crime statistics in Hesse recorded a total of 79 cases of property damage to trees between 2020 and 2024. In 2022 alone, the number of poisonings rose dramatically to 23. This indicates a worrying development and points to a growing problem in dealing with urban trees. There have been similar incidents in Bad Hersfeld and Frankfurt in particular, which show that this type of environmental crime is becoming more and more common.

The role of urban trees

The importance of urban trees should not be underestimated. Not only do they provide shade and cooling, but they also play an essential role in air filtration and providing habitat for many animals. The loss of an old tree has enormous ecological consequences because these trees provide unique ecosystem services that cannot easily be replaced by young trees. Lawyer Cedric Vornholt comments: “We urgently need tree protection regulations issued by the municipalities.” These are of great importance because there is no uniform tree protection law at federal or state level.

Unfortunately, the reality is often different: current penalties for such environmental offenses in Germany are comparatively mild. Intentionally poisoning a tree can be punished with up to two years in prison, while fines for damaged trees can be up to 50,000 euros. In other European countries, such as England, such crimes are punished much harsher, with prison sentences of up to four years for felling a famous tree.

The search for the perpetrators

The city of Riedstadt is doing everything it can to find the perpetrator or perpetrators after Mayor Marcus Kretschmann expressed his dismay at these acts. “We really have to do everything we can to stop this destruction,” said Kretschmann. The city has already filed a complaint against unknown persons. The authorities have also taken similar measures in Bad Hersfeld and Butzbach. Above all, the drilling and spraying method used by the perpetrators for these poisonings shows how unscrupulous and threatening such acts are. In addition to oaks, affected tree species include walnut and horse chestnut trees, which are particularly valuable in urban playgrounds.

In response to the increasing poisoning, NABU Hesse is calling for new plantings to be initiated to support adaptation to the urban climate. The destruction of trees not only has an immediate impact, but also damages the entire ecosystem within the city.

As sueddeutsche.de summarizes, poisoning trees is not just a serious violation against nature, but also a clear attack on the quality of life of the residents. It is high time that social and political efforts were made to stop this invisible war against nature.

A reward of 500 euros has been offered for information about the perpetrators, and the hope remains that by joining forces, environmental crime can be put to a stop.