Rollercoaster ride at the Holzmarkt: WBV Holzkirchen takes stock

Created: 05/26/2022, 18:19

The WBV annual general meeting offered an evening-long program in which the chairman Alexander Mayr (l.) presented his activity report and his predecessor Michael Lechner (2nd from left) was said goodbye by AELF district forester Robert Wiechmann (middle).

In addition, Managing Director Alexander Necker (2nd from right) had economic figures ready.

Korbinian Wolf introduced himself as the new Head of Forestry at the AELF.

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District/Irschenberg – The forest owners' association WBV Holzkirchen is faced with fluctuating wood prices.

At least there is now a constant dialogue with the hunting association.

A comprehensive program was recently on the agenda of the annual general meeting of the forest owners' association Holzkirchen (WBV).

In the Irschenberger Trachtenheim, chairman Alexander Mayr reported on fluctuating wood prices as well as risks and opportunities.

The ongoing topic of adapted game populations was also discussed.

In addition, Korbinian Wolf spoke up as the new Head of Forestry in the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry in Holzkirchen (AELF).

WBV Managing Director Alexander Necker presented economic figures.

"Empty warehouses, extremely good construction activity and high export quotas due to trade disputes between Canada and the USA brought us record sales in winter 2021," Mayr, who took over the WBV chairmanship from Michael Lechner in 2021, began the presentation of the wood price development.

Bark beetles and uncertain prices

It is true that uncertainties regarding the Forest Damage Compensation Act and permitted felling volumes caused prices to rise again to around 110 euros per cubic meter for short timber by the summer.

However, the winter of 2021/22 was characterized by a saturation of the log market, a slump in demand for construction timber, slumps in exports and a significant drop in prices.

The price has now stabilized again.

Because the bark beetle infestation is only foreseeable in the next few weeks, and because of the Ukraine war and the container backlog in Shanghai, even such banal materials as insulating material or nails for the construction industry are missing, Mayr recommended driving on sight and minimizing risks: "Even if lumber is out Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are missing and wood is in demand worldwide, I advise against speculation.”

Dialogue with the Miesbach Hunting Association

The WBV boss dedicated another focus to sustainable forests.

He misses a lack of dialogue and angrily stated: “Many climate change strategic measures are floating around.

Decisions are often made over the heads of the forest owners as actual experts.

Instead, self-proclaimed forest rescuers are listened to.” In addition, sustainable forests are impossible without adapted wild populations.

Korbinian Wolf, who recently succeeded Christian Webert as Head of Forestry in the AELF, took the same line: "Adapted hunting is a basic requirement for the necessary forest conversion." There was a rapprochement with Wolfgang Mayr, the new chairman of the Miesbach district group in the Bavarian Hunting Association (BJV ).

Almost 33,500 hectares of forest managed in 2021

After an initial conversation, Forstmann Mayr said: "I'm optimistic that a promising new beginning has been made." The hunter Mayr confirmed this: "I'm always ready for a dialogue on a technical and factual level." As proof of this, Miesbach's top hunter drew his completed WBV membership application from the jacket pocket.

There was unanimity between WBV and BJV that the enormous increase in leisure time pressure is affecting the forests quite a bit.

WBV Managing Director Alexander Necker reported positive figures for 2021.

Accordingly, around 2,300 members manage almost 33,500 hectares of forest.

The total volume marketed was 77,739 cubic meters.

Almost 61,600 solid cubic meters were coniferous logs.

26,800 saplings were planted – three quarters of them hardwood.

Around 16,900 tons of CO2 saved in 2021

MW Biomasse AG, founded in 2006, has proven to be a successful model.

Almost 60,000 loose cubic meters of wood chips were used in 26 heating plants, generating a boiler output of 12,000 kW.

Together with 4,180 tons of marketed pellets, according to Necker's calculation, there was a saving of 6.34 million liters of heating oil - or around 16,900 tons of CO2.

In addition, the valuable wood submission has been providing excellent results for 24 years.

This year, a flamed maple from the Landsberg forestry operation achieved a new record value of 16,970 euros per cubic metre.