Prague has made significant strides in urban greening over recent years, planting over 620,000 new trees. However, the goal of reaching one million trees by 2026 is proving to be a challenge. The planting pace has slowed, and experts are now questioning whether this ambitious plan is achievable.
In the past five years, Prague has made notable progress in environmental protection: as reported by ČT24, over 620,000 new trees have been planted in the Czech capital so far. Despite this achievement, the city is still challenged by its ambitious action plan, which aims to plant one million trees by 2026. The current planting rate has slowed considerably, casting doubt on the goal’s feasibility. For example, while Prague planted 198,000 trees in 2019, only around 72,000 have been planted this year, mostly in outer districts.
The Million Trees Initiative action plan was approved by the city government in 2019, committing Prague to a comprehensive urban greening project over the following eight years. However, recent figures reveal a slowdown in planting efforts. To meet its target, Prague would need to plant over 180,000 trees annually for the next two years—an endeavor experts consider unlikely.
A key aim of the initiative is to mitigate the effects of the city’s hot summers. Experts emphasize that increasing green space is essential for improving Prague’s urban climate. However, most of the new trees are being planted outside the city center, in areas such as Letňany Forest Park, Lítožnice Landscape Park, and Panenka Forest.
Experts also recommend creating a “green ring” around Prague to enhance the city’s climate sustainability. These new trees would help reduce urban overheating, improve water retention, and protect the city from increasingly frequent extreme rainfall. Trees in the suburban landscape will improve rainwater retention and infiltration, providing much-needed resilience during heavy rainfall events.
Prague faces considerable challenges in implementing this ambitious action plan, but the city recognizes the importance of these greening measures. The next few years will determine whether Prague can meet the one-million-tree target and achieve lasting improvements in its urban climate.
