Three-Lobed Maple
The three-lobed maple is a true superhero of the plant world. Its ability to adapt cleverly to new conditions makes it a fascinating example of resilience in nature. And because it withstands heat so well thanks to its dense crown and leathery leaf structure, researchers also call it the “tree of the future” in times of climate change.
Three-Lobed Maple (Acer monspessulanum)
| Family: | Soapberry family, Sapindaceae |
| Distribution: | Mediterranean region to the Caucasus and northern Iran; in Germany, in areas with a wine-growing climate |
| Size: | 8–10 metres tall, 5–7 metres wide |
| Lifespan: | up to 150 years |
| Requirements: | Sun to light shade, loves light and warmth, heat- and wind-resistant |
| Soil: | prefers well-drained, calcareous soils |
| Benefits: | Tree well-suited to urban climates, a nectar source for bees |
Built to last
It is arguably the largest and most complex construction project of the post-mining era: the new mine water canal in Ibbenbüren measures 7.4 kilometres in length. All the mine water from the former mine flows through it. During production, the water drainage pumps consumed the electricity used by an average of 12,900 households. Thanks to the geological conditions of the site, the canal can collect the rising mine water at the von-Oeynhausen 1 shaft at +63 metres above sea level (ASL) entirely without pumps and discharge it to the new mine water treatment plant in Gravenhorst. From Gravenhorst, the treated water flows via the Aa to the Ems.
The implementation of this mine water management plan offers many environmental and geological benefits: besides energy savings and a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions, the mineral load in the water to be discharged is also reduced significantly. In the long term, the salt concentration will be just one hundredth of current levels. This reduces the salt loads discharged into the Ibbenbürener Aa by up to 99 per cent.
Reason for planting
Let the water flow! Mine water from the Ibbenbüren East Field will flow into the new mine water canal for the first time in 2026. In the meantime, the treatment plant in Gravenhorst has also commenced trial operations. RAG-Stiftung is dedicating a tree on the foundation’s tree-lined avenue to this historic event.
