91ɫ

  • 4/25/2025
  • Reading time 2 min.

Citizen Science project “Mein Baum”

Contributing to Sustainable Urban Planning via Smartphone App

Trees reduce heat pollution in cities, provide us with oxygen, and bind climate-damaging Carbon dioxide. However, it is currently unclear which and how many trees grow in urban areas and how much this stock can help with climate adaptation. In collaboration with the 91ɫ (TUM) and University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT), BUND Naturschutz has launched the citizen science project “Mein Baum” ('My Tree'). With the help of a smartphone app, people can document local trees and play an active role in scientific research.

Trees on a densely populated street with apartment buildings on a sunny day iStockphoto / Nikada
Using a smartphone app, anyone interested can easily gather information about the trees in their area and help researchers at TUM and HSWT with their work.

Urban trees face several challenges: Drought, disease, and tree felling reduce their potential to mitigate the effects of climate change in cities. “Cities must intensify their efforts to deal with the impact of climate change. Sustainable urban planning incorporating nature into the urban environment is key to creating livable, climate-resilient cities for the future”, says , Professor of and Head of the (TUM). He supports the project scientifically alongside , Professor of Ecological Modeling at TUM, and Barbara Darr, Professor of Urban Forest Management at HSWT.

Martin Geilhufe, political director at BUND Naturschutz, emphasizes: “Protecting urban trees requires a better understanding of their condition and distribution. This is exactly where the Citizen Science project 'Mein Baum' comes in.”

“Mein Baum” invites citizens to document their urban trees. Documentation is straightforward and uses predefined categories such as location, tree species, condition, root area, trunk, and tree crown. The integrated tree species selection helps to correctly identify the trees. It contains photos and a brief description of common tree species. Users can also upload pictures of the trees so that experts can check and confirm the entries. They can also document the animals and plants living on the trees. Entry by entry, this creates a comprehensive directory of trees in towns and municipalities.

Cities under increasing pressure to respond

Researchers need a robust database to define effective goals and measures for climate adaptation. “'Mein Baum' enables precise data collection on urban trees. This will help us better understand and quantify their ecological importance in the future,” says Thomas Rötzer.

The app is free to download from popular app stores. It also offers a community area where participants can exchange information and participate in activities like watering trees during dry periods.

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Further information and links
  • At the Centre for (ZSK) at TUM, interdisciplinary teams develop practical recommendations for action for cities and municipalities, demonstrating how the sustainable city of the future can be adapted to the impacts of climate change by harnessing the ecosystem services of urban green spaces.
  • Stephan Pauleit and Thomas Rötzer are members of the .

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Contacts to this article:


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Phone: +49 (8161) 71-4780
pauleitspam prevention@tum.de


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Phone: +49 (8161) 71-4667
thomas.roetzerspam prevention@tum.de

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