Lecture and discussion evening: Trees in transition – challenges and opportunities

The university and the foundation are working together on the basis of a cooperation agreement.Theofficers at the current event are Dr. Christian Böhm from the Chair of Soil-Plant Systems at BTU and Christoph Haase, Officer for Garden Monument Conservation at SFPMG. All interested parties are welcome to attend the lecture and discussion evening "Trees in transition - challenges and opportunities". Admission to the event in the zoo restaurant "Schlodder" is free via the zoo ticket office from 4 pm.

1st lecture
Enhancing landscapes with trees - The function of tree-rich landscapes as a link between agriculture, water management and nature conservation.
Trees have always been an important part of our landscapes, even outside the forest. However, knowledge of their benefits has been lost in many places. Trees were often even perceived as a nuisance and removed. Today, when climate change, water pollution and species decline are presenting us with major challenges, the positive significance of trees in our landscape is very clearly visible. The lecture focuses on their effect on climate, soil, water and biodiversity, but also on productivity in agricultural landscapes. It will also shed light on which woody plants are considered sustainable and why it is often very difficult to establish new, tree-rich landscapes.
Dr. Christian Böhm, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Chair Soil-Plant Systems

2nd lecture
Model project "Branitz Tree University" - New ways of propagating and using woody plants in the area of conflict between climate change, garden monument preservation and nature conservation
Poor soils and a lack of water already posed great challenges for Prince Pückler in the middle of the 19th century when annexing his famous landscape park in Branitz. Nevertheless, he succeeded in creating "an oasis out of the desert". Preserving this "oasis" in times of accelerating climate change and developing it for the future is the task of the "Branitz University of Trees". The lecture provides an insight into the historical beginnings of the "University of Trees" and spans the arc to current challenges and solutions for the future.
Christoph Haase, Stiftung Fürst-Pückler-Museum Park und Schloss Branitz, officer for garden monument preservation, head of the "Branitz Tree University" project

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2023, 17:30 to 19:00
Location: Tierpark Cottbus, Tierparkgaststätte "Schlodder", Kiekebuscher Str. 5, 03042 Cottbus

About the "Open BTU "lecture series
From April 10 to June 12, 2024, the public lecture series "Open BTU"offers interesting insights into exciting scientific fields. In the summer semester, the following topics will be examined from different perspectives:

• Empathy, guilt and forgiveness after the 2nd World War
• Sorbian/Wendish culture in the current transformation process
• The effects of populism on the economy and social groups
• Trees in transition - challenges and opportunities (as part of the 32nd Cottbus Environment Week)
• 75 years of the Basic Law - crisis-proof or in need of renewal
• Battery research for the energy transition - prospects for innovative battery recycling.

With this educational format, which is open to all interested parties, the university's Centre for Continuing Education supports lifelong learning and funds the transfer of knowledge and ideas in the region by addressing socially relevant issues. The BTU cooperates with other universities and institutions. Each lecture will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion with the speakers. Anyone interested is cordially invited to take part in the wide range of events on offer.

More about the lecture series  "Open BTU":
https://www.b-tu.de/weiterbildung/offene-hochschule/open-btu

Press contact Prince-Pückler-Museum Park and Palace Branitz Foundation
Catrin Winn-Janetz
Press officer
+49 (0) 355 7515-194
+49 (0) 157 741 130 78
catrin.winn-janetz(at)pueckler-museum.de