The European Arboricultural Council (EAC) has, for the ninth time, chosen one city to carry the honorable title European City of the Trees. The winner this year is Tallinn, capital of Estonia.
“Tallinn merited the title of the European tree capital because the jury was impressed by the requirement to plant new trees to replace any that have been cut down,” EAC explained the decision to award the Estonian capital with the title, ERR News reported.
The first European City of the Trees title went to Valencia, Spain, in 2007. Since then the nominees include Turin, Amsterdam, Prague, and several others. Tallinn takes over from 2014 winner Frankfurt in Germany.
With the award EAC aims to draw more attention to the ecological and cultural value of trees in urban environment and to promote European arboriculture.
“The fact that our capital is filled with greenery and that we invest a great deal in its maintenance is well known, but it is noteworthy that this is also recognized by specialists from the rest of Europe,” said Deputy Mayor Arvo Sarapuu. “In this regard, we are increasingly convinced that we possess all the preconditions to be chosen as the European Green Capital in 2018.”
Europe’s Tree of the Year is also located in Estonia. An oak tree in the middle of Orissaare stadium on the island of Saaremaa won public vote for the title in March.
