Hallenwald in Miesbach: beeches threatened by fungus - felling planned

Created: 03/31/2022, 04:46

By: Fridolin Thanner

The old stock of trees in the hall forest in Miesbach gets too much sun, causing the bark to tear open and a fungus can infest the beeches.

© Thanner

Miesbach – After extensive felling due to the ALB, several beeches in the hall forest in Miesbach are now suffering from fungal infestation.

More trees are felled.

Sunshine every day.

As much as people enjoy the nice, warm weather, it is just as problematic for nature.

It's way too dry.

The beeches in the Miesbacher Hallenwald also get too much sun.

After the fellings that were necessary to get rid of the Asian long-horned beetle (ALB), the mighty trees are exposed.

The years to come will show how many can withstand it.

In any case, the city will not take any protective measures.

What is necessary and possible was presented by Korbinian Wolf, Head of Forestry at the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF) Holzkirchen, and arborist Anton Linsinger to the city councilors at their most recent meeting.

Two decrepit trees definitely have to go in the fall.

Five others are also already suffering from fungal infestation.

16 other trees in the hall forest are endangered

This has happened what was feared: The trees, which are now exposed to direct sunlight, get sunburned.

The bark breaks open and fungi can penetrate.

The fissure has already spread in five beeches.

Your fate is sealed.

However, they are still so stable that they would not soon pose a danger to pedestrians or the surrounding buildings.

Linsinger estimates that the trees will have to be removed in four to five years at the latest.

So that this fate does not befall 16 other endangered trees, they could be protected from the sun with white tree paint or camouflage nets.

That costs around 2,100 or 1,300 euros per trunk.

The fact that no plastic is brought into the forest speaks for the painting.

Disadvantages are the optics and the lack of air circulation on the trunk.

In addition, according to the experts, the paint must be renewed every few years.

Quarantine for ALB is still ongoing

Mayor Gerhard Braunmiller found the news very regrettable and was not alone.

Nevertheless, in the end the majority of the committee agreed with what Markus Seemüller and Michael Lechner (both FWG) suggested: “Two have to go.

I would wait as long as possible with the rest," said Seemüller.

"We have a duty to ensure traffic safety," added Lechner, hoping that the felling would only become necessary after the ALB quarantine had expired.

"Then we can use the wood regularly," he said, "and a new forest can grow back."

Erhard Pohl (CSU) agreed.

"Let's give young people a chance," he said, referring to the renewable forest generation.

Paul Fertl (SPD) believes that some will be resilient enough to fight off sunburn and fungus.

In any case, he said, "we shouldn't do tabula rasa."

Felling the entire old stock was discussed on site, but not an option for the councillors, as Astrid Güldner (Greens) also made clear.

The trees should be allowed to remain as long as possible, she said, and regretted that protective measures were not taken immediately after the ALB felling operation.

The danger had been known.

The coming years will show how many of the trees can withstand it permanently.

Two variants for felling in the hall forest

The city councilors have unanimously decided to remove the two no longer stable beeches in autumn.

This costs 4,000 euros per tree from tree climbers.

If the wood is transported away with a cable winch and thus less gently for the newly prepared path, the costs amount to 2,500 euros per tree.

The committee rejected further protective measures against the votes of Fertl and Hedwig Schmid (SPD) and Güldner and Malin Friese (Greens).

Manfred Burger (Greens) would like it if as much of the trunks as possible could remain as ecologically valuable deadwood during felling.

Carvers could also become artistically active and ensure an appreciation.