Forest experts explain how the mountain forest near Marienstein is maintained

Created: 02/08/2022 18:33

They rely on gentle care of the mountain forest: (from left) Jörg Meyer (Head of Schliersee forestry operation), Forest Director Korbinian Wolf and Alexander Mayr (Chairman of WBV Holzkirchen).

© Gernböck

Waakirchen – When trees are felled in the forest, it sometimes causes criticism.

Forestry experts have now informed in Marienstein about near-natural forest management.

Mountain forest is an important part of our ecosystem.

It also fulfills an important protective function.

Intact mountain forests protect valleys from dangers such as falling rocks, mudslides, avalanches and floods - in other words, from risks that are not diminishing in times of climate change.

In order for the mountain forest to be able to fulfill its function in the long term, it is necessary for people to take care of it.

What a forest management in the mountains that is both targeted and as natural as possible looks like today has now been presented in a forest near Marienstein.

Forest director Korbinian Wolf from the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF) in Holzkirchen, Jörg Meyer, manager of the Schliersee forestry operation, and the chairman of the forest owners' association Holzkirchen (WBV), Alexander Mayr, explained appropriate measures on site as examples, which are also supported by ongoing work were illustrated.

Mobile cable crane systems in use

In contrast to flat land, where felled trees can be taken out of the forest using tractors, mobile cable crane systems are used on steep terrain.

"That's almost the only way to get the trunks down from the mountain slopes into the valley," Mayr explained the comparatively complex variant.

A suspension cable is stretched between a tipping mast at the valley point and a terminal mast – both fixed to strong surrounding trees – with a carriage equipped with a traction cable.

The felled trees are pulled into the narrow cable route by means of a drive and then transported down the valley either floating or with one end dragging on the ground.

Soon young trees again on flysch soil

Although minor damage such as bark injuries or abrasions on the ground cannot always be avoided, Meyer emphasized that this is the gentlest way of removing the sap.

Experience has shown that extensive erosion is not to be feared, since the exposed, fertile flysch soil is quickly overgrown by young trees again.

He clearly rejects drastic interventions such as clear cuts.

These would no longer be practiced today, as they would have massively interfered with the natural structure and thus brought with them massive disadvantages.

Wood as a high-quality raw and building material

Maximum precision is not only the top priority during the work, but also in the planning phase, explained Meyer.

For example, aspects of nature conservation such as closed seasons or nutrient sustainability would have to be taken into account for a cut.

In addition to protecting plants and animals, it is also important to keep restrictions on those seeking relaxation as low as possible.

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WBV chairman Mayr demonstrated the connection between economy and sustainability.

The wood harvested in the region is used exclusively by regional companies.

The high-quality raw and building material contributes to the reduction of CO2 from an ecological point of view and is a financial mainstay for many forest owners.

Goal: rejuvenate mountain forest

The aim of the maintenance measures is to rejuvenate the mountain forest.

It should present itself as a near-natural, tree-species-rich and tiered mixed forest.

Important tree species are fir, beech, spruce and sycamore.

Last but not least, a composition of different species is important in order to be prepared for the challenges of climate change, emphasized Wolf.

Warmer summers would give the bark beetle good years, and damage from storms would increase.

Forests that are too dense would suppress the offspring and become unstable.

"Our incentive is a stable, efficient forest for future generations," said the forest director.

Species protection is also an option, Mayr added.

The diversity of species in a near-naturally managed forest is at least as high as in an unmanaged one.

A ten-year-old cable route finally showed how the forest had coped with the intervention: it was densely overgrown with young trees and was hardly recognizable.