Bavarian forests instead of Ballermann: Because of Corona, vacationers are increasingly indulging in a break in this country, preferably in the supposedly quiet idyll. Nature is not always taken into account. But there are also positive consequences.
Ebrach (AP) - water ripples, it smells of wild garlic along the Böhlbach in the Steigerwald. An idyllic spot in the Haßberge district. But not during the lockdown: Cars from regions such as Hamburg and Berlin parked the paths, a resident wore hearing protection on his deck chair in the garden.
The rush at Böhlgrund was also the result of an advertisement by the Bavarian State Forests in Ebrach with ten "Coronavirus excursion tips". But similar situations have emerged in many places in Bavaria over the past few months - not only where those seeking relaxation have been consciously sent.
More and more forest visitors
"The forest strengthens the immune system, and" Wald-Baden "has a positive effect on the psyche," explains forest manager Ulrich Mergner the reason why the exit restrictions were used to lure visitors. It seems undisputed that more people go to the forest in Corona times.
Not only the Bavarian State Forests registered a corresponding increase, but also the forestry professor Michael Suda from the Technical University of Munich. Starting at the end of April, he surveyed forest visitors for six weeks and, like a study in Baden-Württemberg, found that the number of visitors and visits had increased significantly.
People could switch off between trees and bushes, and disruptions from car noise, smell, stress and hectic rush would be reduced. In addition, there are proven health-promoting aspects such as an increased release of endorphins or the formation of immune cells.
Rush of visitors due to the corona crisis
And a third factor is decisive, according to Suda: "The forest is the last consumption-free zone. You can go into the forest and have no money with you and it doesn't matter. That makes a lot of relaxation that you don't have to think about consumption, but rather concentrate on other things, on the greenery around you. "
In Bavaria, according to the Bund Naturschutz (BN) and Landesbund für Vogelschutz (LBV), forests close to the city, the Bavarian Forest and the Alpine region are the main attractions for visitors. "At the beginning of Corona there were real outcry in the Alpine region due to the increased number of visitors," recalls Ralf Straussberger from the BN.
Interestingly enough, many people seem particularly bothered by those witnesses of civilization that show that other people are also out and about in the forest - small scraps of paper, for example. "Most of the forest visitors are totally responsible for the forest," emphasizes Suda. "The forest is a very important, valued place." Only a negligibly small proportion of visitors leave rubbish or scratch scribbles in tree bark - which, however, is often very much noticed by the public.
Visitors leave rubbish behind
In the media, it was not only the rush of visitors in the catchment area of Munich that played a major role, where the Oberlanders in particular complained about fully parked streets, rubbish and noise. There was also excitement in the Berchtesgaden National Park. For example, dogs used by walkers are said to have stalked marmots that had just awakened from hibernation. In another case, strangers shot a wood grouse with a pistol crossbow.
Then there are the desperate attempts of the national park to master the popularity of a pool. The photo motif popular for self-portrayal on Instagram meant that the previously hidden waterhole was overrun this year - including trampled vegetation, illegal campfires and forbidden camping.
"We not only have the impression that there are more people in the forest in terms of numbers, but also that many visitors behave differently," said LBV Chairman Norbert Schäffer, speaking of a "setback". "Litter in the great outdoors, for example, was actually a problem that we had solved." The BN also reports that, according to forest workers, there is significantly more waste in the forests.
More education needed
"When people go on holiday in this country, that is to be welcomed, as flying causes a great deal of pollution," emphasizes Straussberger. The Bund Naturschutz advocates avoiding tourist hotspots and day tourism. "Better to stay a few days, forego the car and use public transport," says Straussberger.
And adhere to the rules of conduct: In areas where meadow breeders or capercaillie, black grouse and black stork reside, there is actually a rule that hikers should stay on the path. "But we are told again and again that people are moving all over there," says Straussberger. "They don't do it because they want to scare away the animals or deliberately disturb them, they don't know." Therefore, the summer vacation in the forest increased by Corona is also an opportunity to sensitize people to nature.
"Area managers and rangers are more important than ever before," says Schäffer from LBV. "The most depressing thing for me: I know a lot of rangers who are trained for a factual, constructive conversation and who are approached aggressively by some people." According to Schäffer, there have recently been a number of cases in which hikers and mountain bikers laughed at nature conservation officers or rangers, simply stopped, spoke stupidly or even got violent.
The high number of hits on the LBV's homepage also confirms the growing interest in nature: "We have achieved values that we did not know before," says Schäffer. Most people would click pages on bird species identification and bird watching. "We now have the people outside. They take a closer look at our country because they are not in Spain or Greece. We have to see that as an opportunity to mediate between nature, living space and people."
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Homepage forest researcher Suda
