Erdweg - By planting young deciduous trees in a forest near Erdweg, Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Dachau eG is making a contribution to environmental protection and sustainability in the region. The cooperative bank pays 700 euros - around 30 percent of the costs for reforestation of the forest. A further 1,800 euros will be used for campaigns with school classes and for advice from private forest farmers on converting the forest.
“First of all, I was looking for a way of offsetting the CO2 emissions of the bank's own vehicle fleet,” says Manfred Strobl, head of the building management department at VR-Bank. "It was our wish to make this contribution to nature conservation in the region." From this first thought, a complex environmental project with the municipalities arose, which not only binds CO2 sustainably, but also helps the forest and contributes to environmental education for children.
After making contact with many contacts from authorities, associations and environmental organizations, Manfred Strobl found a competent and enthusiastic colleague in the district forester Lisa Schubert. Together, the campaign became a pioneering project that is unique in the region. "We hope that we will find many imitators," says Manfred Strobl.
The forester in the Markt Indersdorf district is converting a piece of forest near the Erdweg forest cemetery into a climate-tolerant mixed stand on behalf of the Erdweg community and the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forests. The ash trees that stood there suffered from ash dieback. Thanks to the support of the Volksbank, Lisa Schubert and her intern, forestry student Michael Senger, can now plant climate-tolerant and site-appropriate trees on the forest: wild pear, wild apple, black walnut and white elm. These trees are flowering and provide rich food for the insects. "These are all tree species that are important for nature, with which we create a species-rich diversity," reported the district forester.
Bank board member Thomas Höbel took part in the first planting with Sebastian Schruff, Head of Management, and Manfred Strobl. Environmental protection is important to Thomas Höbel, especially in the region. He is promoting e-mobility, having solar cells installed on all bank-owned buildings and equipping the new buildings with energy-friendly equipment. Bees produce organic honey behind the main office in Dachau's old town. Thomas Höbel also calls for climate protection for the bank's vehicle fleet. In 2019, the mileage of company vehicles was around 450,000 kilometers. “That corresponds to emissions of around 92 tons of CO2. We offset every ton of CO2 with 25 euros. Our funding amounts to 2300 euros for CO2 neutrality, ”reported Manfred Strobl. Bank director Thomas Höbel rounded the amount up to 2500 euros and said: “It doesn't always have to be a big event. What is important is the regional commitment and that every individual is rethinking. Even small measures, for example not paving everything in your own garden, can have a big impact. "
Erdweg's mayor Christian Blatt also likes such actions. He thanked him that the funding contributes to long-term, sustainable climate protection and is also the start for the conversion of the forest. “The district of Dachau is one of the least forested districts in Bavaria,” he stated. In order to raise awareness among the population for the green lung forest in the young generation, all third graders from primary schools in the district will again be invited to planting campaigns in municipal forests in the coming school year.
Volksbank Dachau is donating 1,800 euros for the small trees to be planted. In order to raise awareness of climate-tolerant tree species among forest owners, Lisa Schubert and her colleague Franz Knierer from the Odelzhausen forest district present each private forest owner with a special tree sprout during a consultation. dn
