Danger lurks above: After storms, caution is advised in the forests in the Freising district

Created: 03/03/2022, 08:00

By: Magdalena Hoecherl

The recent storms have not only caused damage in northern Germany (picture), but also in parts of Bavaria.

In Freising, however, one was largely spared.

© Büttner/dpa

Some of the recent storms have caused massive damage.

In Freising, on the other hand, the forest has even benefited.

Nevertheless, caution is advised.

District

– In a way, Alfred Fuchs, head of the Freising forestry company, is happy about the storms “Ylenia” and “Zeynep”, which recently also swept over the district of Freising.

Fortunately, the storms - unlike in the Fichtelgebirge or in the Bavarian Forest - did not cause any major damage in the forests.

"We were only slightly affected."

At the same time, such weather conditions are useful: "As a forester, I'm happy when the storm comes in time, because it brushes through our forest," says Fuchs.

This means: "Unstable elements that are potentially dangerous are already on the ground before they can become dangerous to people who are out and about in the forest."

Be careful when walking in the woods

So you have a few 100 to a few 1000 cubic meters of windblown wood - and that on an area of ​​almost 17,000 hectares.

"Extrapolated, something comes together, but compared to the stock, the fallen trees are very small."

It could take well into the summer for forest workers to even identify all the fallen trees.

Fuchs therefore appeals to all forest visitors to keep their eyes open and not to be careless in the coming weeks.

"Trees that are at an angle or broken branches that are hanging somewhere: you should definitely stay away from them." A look up is always advisable: "After a storm, the danger comes from above - and for quite some time."

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)

The forest is increasingly exposed to damage from natural forces such as storms, droughts, but also animal and plant pests due to climate change.

"One has to assume that changes in our climate regime lead to a targeted increase in such damage from natural events," says Fuchs.

Unlike in other areas, however, people in the forest have always been strongly focused on finding their own way of dealing with the weather.

"What we understand by forest is not just what grows on the ground by itself, but also what we want - for example in terms of profitability, raw material supply or nature conservation," he explains.

Mixed forests defy climate change

Because more stormy and also dry weather conditions are to be expected in the future, the region is no longer relying so heavily on spruce.

The focus has been on building mixed forests for decades.

“At least four tree species per hectare.

The more colorful this patchwork carpet is, the better the risk is distributed,” explains Fuchs.

The goal: "With this mixture, we want to ensure forest growth over the entire area by the year 2100."

Fuchs emphasizes: "What I plant today will grow for 80 to 140 years.

For sustainable forests, you need a good concept and staying power.” Foresters and forest farmers have learned to think and act in longer periods of time than the majority of the population.

"Because if we lose the forest, it would be absolutely dramatic in many ways."

Ash dieback is increasing

And even if the past storms have not damaged the Freisinger Forst, forest manager Alfred Fuchs is worried about something else: the increasing ash dieback in the Isar floodplains.

"When the fungus responsible for this has infested the ash trees, other fungi come and attack their root system." The root rots alive, so to speak, and an apparently healthy tree can suddenly fall over - and is therefore also a danger, for example Example of walkers.

More current news from the district of Freising can be found here.