Mittelstetten - Fresh and green - despite climate change - this is how our forests should look in the future.
A new forest conversion educational trail in the Rechtlerwald in Längenmoos near Mittelstetten shows how this is possible.
Last week, it was officially opened by those responsible for the Department of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF) and representatives of the community.
"We use
practical examples
to show what you can do to convert the forest with a view to climate change so that it can withstand the changed conditions and also generate economic benefits," explained Stefan Warsönke, Head of Forestry at AELF.
The project is aimed primarily at around
16,000 private forest owners
in Warsönke's forest area.
Interested walkers can also read interesting facts about forest maintenance and regeneration on the twelve information boards along the way.
Spruce trees are not designed for extreme weather conditions
The tree experts have no doubt that the forests need to be rebuilt. The reason: For many years we almost exclusively planted spruce, as this fast-growing and undemanding species promised the highest yield. Now that the annual average temperature is rising and the extreme weather increases, these pure spruce stands are particularly endangered. "With their
shallow roots
, the spruce trees are
easily knocked over
by the more frequent
storms
," reported Warsönke on the tour through the forest conversion nature trail, where around 80-year-old spruce trees rise up like matches in a clearing. In addition, these trees are often used by
bark beetles
because of their soft wood
afflicted, which multiply particularly strongly with the warmer temperatures.
At least four tree species per forest
Creating resilient mixed forests - that is the motto of the AELF.
At least four tree species should grow in each forest, according to the recommendation.
“In the protection of older
spruce trees
, for example, you can plant the shade-tolerant
firs
and
beeches,
” advises Anita Ottmann, district manager at the Fürstenfeldbruck forest district.
The forest then grows on two levels.
Ottmann also recommends that new plantings to more exotic species such as
Douglas fir
or the
service tree
to think, the maple leaf-like is displayed on the signs on the trail.
What if the spruce trees themselves multiply so much that the young saplings grow tightly packed?
Then it is time to radically thin out and loosen up the spruce stands with other species, according to the forest experts.
Such a young forest can also be examined on the forest conversion educational trail.
Costly and tedious
All in all, it became clear during the tour that the conversion of our forests is an expensive and laborious project.
"In many places the deer thwart our plans", regretted Gero Brehm, department head at the Fürstenfeldbruck forestry office.
In laborious manual work, freshly planted little trees would therefore have to be protected with tubes made of veneer wood or similar measures - constant controls and repairs included.
Fürstenfeldbruck's deputy district administrator, Martina Drechsler, still considers the forest conversion nature trail to be trend-setting. "I am sure that a large-scale forest conversion will make our Bavarian homeland even more beautiful," said Drechsler.
Jutta Thiel
List of rubric lists: © Jutta Thiel
