Berlin. Climate change and monocultures are turning the ancient fairytale forest into a problem child. The forestry industry must take bold action to save it.
The forest is a place of longing for many Germans. Even as children, we heard about it in myths and fairy tales – whether in “Snow White”, “Hansel and Gretel” or in stories about fairies and forest trolls. As adults, we reclaim the former childhood adventure paradise as a place of refuge: we bring wooden decorations into our homes to add a feel-good factor and read bestsellers about it. Forestto do long walks in the foresthugging trees. Some people even practice forest yoga or forest bathing.
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The forest radiates peace and takes away the stress of everyday life. treeswho are often significantly older than you, climb majestically. It seems that nothing can shake them. They make the forest a special place that radiates strength and grounding. Studies prove what we ourselves feel: the forest is good for people. And what’s more: it allows us to heal more quickly.
Forest death in Germany: beetles are not the only ones to blame
This increases our dismay even more when we see entire areas of land dying again. The sight of the deadwood deserts, for example when driving through the Harz Mountains, is always shocking. It has long been known that the German forest has a problem. And the reasons for this Death of the forest are known: nutrient-poor soils, storms and drybut especially pests – especially the bark beetle.
Beetles can destroy entire areas of forest.
© image alliance/dpa | Daniel Vogel
Many trees are weakened due to increased dry spells. As a result, it has Bark beetle easy game. Because just like you healthy body can better protect against viruses or bacteria, healthy trees are better able to keep intruders away with resin. Stressed trees, on the other hand, are left almost helpless at their mercy.
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But is it really possible to save them? After all, experts already predict that we Germans will have to say goodbye to the German forest. You could say that it’s your fault. After all, man-made things also take care of Climate Change because the forest is in such bad shape due to droughts, heavy rains and storms. The many created after World War II Monocultures make the situation even worse. We also have to admit that. The economy was simply more important than ecology.
We will no longer be able to allow this in the future. ecology must consistently come first for this to happen there are still foreststhat can be managed. This requires long-term strategies, because helping forests in acute situations is virtually impossible. For example, who can water a forest?
Biodiversity must go beyond native species
The long-delayed forest conversion by experts is underway. Foresters are trying to implement what has long been known and long ignored: a forest with five or six Tree species created, it grows better than a monoculture. This is achieved through natural forest management and specific nature conservation measures. biodiversity preserved in the forest.
Anne-Kathrin Neuberg-Vural, Consulting and Knowledge Editor in the “Life” department of the central editorial team at Funke.
© FUNKE Photographic Services | Claro
At the same time, we must admit that we are not focusing on this biodiversityas we knew them before. New tree species are needed. The forest needs migration. Earlier this year, a research team identified the 69 most common of just over 100 European tree species for the 21st century Europe examined. On average, in Europe, only nine of these 69 species per site are future-proof.
Trees planted now for reforestation must survive current and future conditions. In the end, species from distant regions must also be selected because they are better suited to our environment. climate adapted to the coming decades.
At the same time, we should not and cannot rely solely on new forestry strategies and a combination of new strategies. Tree species to protect our forests from death. We cannot avoid it Climate Change but contain it in the best possible way, in order to sustainably preserve not only the economic sector, but also the much-desired forest.