Overview

• The endangered longhorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) has severely damaged veteran oaks at the Baggersee parking lot, with one central oak at risk of collapse.
• Strict conservation laws require a special permit to remove the tree, leaving the municipality to choose between fencing off 30–40 parking spaces or installing costly supports.
• Installing bespoke tree supports would cost approximately €15,000 per tree and still reduce parking capacity by 10–15 spaces.
• The beetle plays a critical role as an ecosystem engineer, supporting biodiversity in old oaks and benefiting other endangered species, complicating removal decisions.
• Funding partnerships with higher authorities are available in some cases, but lack of guaranteed support has led to area closures in similar situations.