It's getting green again on the Netzenberg: a few days ago, the reforestation work began on the former forest area on the outskirts of Schwabsoier.
Shortly before, another stand of spruce had fallen that had not yet been removed.
Schwabsoien
- It looked a little dreary, the picture that emerged last on the Netzenberg near Schwabsoien.
Gray skies, drizzle and a pile of dead spruce trees.
The many trees stacked on top of each other testified to the felling work that had been completed only a few days earlier - shortly before the community started reforesting its hill on the outskirts.
The freshly cleared area was spared in February when the rigorous clear-cutting of the Netzenberg destroyed all the spruce trees.
"At that time we had to leave this area standing for storm protection reasons," explained Manfred Schmid, who had the district forester Christoph Renböck put him in the picture.
The last spruce trees also had to give way
The now fallen trees were supposed to protect the wooded land in the west, which the community was able to buy last year and work on this year.
Of course, there was also a reason for this deforestation: “The entire spruce area is quite shaken,” Renböck explained.
Among other things, beetle infestation made the trees increasingly difficult and caused a high level of instability in the forest.
So these spruces fell too.
But not all of the hardworking workers were there to fell: Five men from the Sailer tree nursery have already started to reforest the Netzenberg under the direction of Stefan Hazucha.
They planted numerous young oaks, winter linden trees, black cherries, ice berries and hornbeams, which should grow into an ecologically valuable mixed forest over the coming decades.
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Oaks in particular play an important role in the reforestation of the Netzenberg.
© Theresa Kuchler
6500 new trees planted
"In total, a good two hectares will be reforested with around 6500 plants," said the forester.
The goal is what is known as an oak habitat type.
Almost half of the newly planted trees are oaks - a particularly pioneering species that can cope well with the effects of climate change.
The bees should also benefit from the forest redesign: through the mixed tree species that bear flowers and a flower strip at the edge of the forest.
The planting of the Nagelfluhfelsen is also taken into account.
"It is framed by wild fruit trees, which are not that high," said the expert.
In this way, the relic from the Ice Age remains clearly visible even when the trees are already large.
The goal: an ecologically valuable mixed oak forest
But the hillside location, the south-facing location and gravelly soil do not make it easy for the young plants to put down roots quickly.
“That's why we chose ball plants,” explained Renböck.
With up to one euro extra, these are more expensive than the common root products, but they would be easier to find their way around in the new environment.
The forester can also explain the white patches of color on the trees: “This is bite protection, because of the deer.” Finally, a conscious decision was made against fencing - even if this is an effective means, especially for larger areas, according to the forester.
On the Netzenberg, however, they want applied nature conservation.
“We just hope it works that way,” said the mayor.
Overall, Christoph Renböck sees a great opportunity in the forest conversion on the Netzenberg.
"It's less of a remodel than a conversion," he said.
"From a spruce forest with no promising future to an ecologically valuable oak stand."