Rotary is more commonly associated with social engagement.
The Oberland clubs have also been supporting an environmental project for two years.
It's about 1000 fir trees on the Spitzberg.
And active help is required.
Lenggries
- The Spitzberg rises between the Fall and Vorderriß on the northern bank of the Isar.
“At the end of 2018, a foehn storm caused major damage in the area,” says Robert Krebs, deputy head of the Tölz forest operations and responsible for the environmental project at the Tölz Rotary Club.
Heavy snowfall followed in January 2019, which led to further damage.
Forestry company pursues a four-tree species strategy
At the beginning of 2019, the Bavarian State Forests first removed the broken wood in order to provide the bark beetle with less surface to attack.
After that, larches were planted.
The forest experts rely on natural regeneration for spruce, beech and sycamore maple.
In general, the forest enterprise pursues a four-tree species strategy on its land in order to make it resilient to climate change.
“Rotary wanted to go one better with a fifth tree species,” says Krebs.
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Each peak bud is sprayed with Trico, a compound made from sheep fat.
© Klinkhardt
Fir copes particularly well with the climatic challenges
Since the fir tree copes particularly well with the climatic challenges, volunteers from the clubs from Tölz, Tegernsee, Schliersee and Holzkirchen planted around 1,000 young fir trees in October 2019.
But that's not all: For such projects to be successful, it took a long breath - and maintenance work every year.
"We also wanted to do something together with schools - but a lot of things simply fell victim to Corona," said Krebs.
Last year, therefore, a very small group took care of the offspring, but this year a larger care day was on the program again.
The greatest danger for the small fir trees is game browsing
The greatest danger for the small fir trees is game browsing, because the young shoots taste particularly delicious.
Every year the summit bud must therefore be protected from voracious contemporaries.
“You could do that with plastic clips,” says Krebs.
However, the decision was made against plastic, especially with a view to environmental concerns, says Krebs.
Instead, they rely on Trico, a product made from sheep fat that is sprayed onto the summit bud.
“As a result, it no longer tastes good.
The remedy works well, ”he explains.
Sweaty work on three hectares
The work on the steep, three-hectare area on the southern flank of the Spitzberg was quite sweaty. In addition, the helpers first had to find the 1,000 small fir trees between the competing vegetation. “It was exhausting, but also great fun,” summarizes Krebs. You can see a certain pride in many of the helpers. “They say: 'We have to protect our fir trees'.” Krebs was also particularly pleased that three helpers from the Rotary youth organization were there.
Rotary clubs will have to hold out this annual maintenance drive for a few more years.
"The fir tree grows very slowly when it is young, but it is very climate-tolerant," says Krebs.
For the future, there are still plans to involve schools in the project - as soon as Corona allows it - and to set up boards explaining the reforestation.
Among other things, the aim is to awaken a greater understanding of the ecological and cultural significance of the mountain forest and its care.
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