May 2, 2023
Bjorn Embren was the man in charge of renewing Stockholm's urban forest -- especially the trees along roads and other public places where the soil. was seriously compacted. He learned at a conference in Hannover that porous rocks can provide a hospitable environment for tree roots. He began to line the bottom of trenches with heavy stones and above them a mixture of small pebbles and biochar. The heavy stones allowed for enough stability for traffic. He add water with nutrients for a couple of years and ensures that there is opportunity for oxygen to reach the roots. He uses the city's waste as a source of biochar, which helps clean the water from streets that would otherwise contaminate the city's waterways and the Baltic seas. The healthy urban forests have impressed other Nordic countries to emulate Stockholm's innovation. For the video, audio podcast, transcript, summary, and comments: https://tosavetheworld.ca/episode-556-trees-in-stockholm.