Tree planting in Germany

We need to do something, because our forests are in worse shape than ever before. The Federal Forest Report 2021 clearly shows the devastating effects of the droughts of previous years: 277,000 hectares of German forest, the vast majority of which are non-native coniferous forests, have been severely damaged or have died completely. This corresponds to an area larger than the Saarland or about three times the size of Berlin. It is precisely through the mass planting of conifer monocultures that we are largely responsible for this new forest dieback. These monocultures also provide a habitat for only a few species and thus contribute to species extinction. Planting such forests again would be disastrous and irresponsible.

Mixed deciduous forests, on the other hand, which would occur naturally in most locations, are better equipped to withstand extreme weather events. For this reason, when planting trees, it should always be scrutinized which tree species should be planted. Extreme caution is required with trees that are not native to the site.

This makes it all the more important that we make our existing forest areas fit for the future. And replanting oaks and beeches in places where there are no hardwood parent trees can certainly make sense. For example, in large-scale conifer monocultures. 

With the help of planting helpers such as jays and the like, coupled with effective wildlife management, nature plants the forest all by itself. This not only creates a structurally rich, natural forest, but also saves us a lot of work. In addition, forests planted by nature are more resilient, as the root system has been able to develop on the site from the outset. And so they can also save more CO2 for longer. When it comes to protecting natural processes, we need to move away from the idea of highly productive timber fields. In future, quality will take precedence over quantity.

However, we not only need commercial forests, but also forests where the sawmill is at rest and the trees are allowed to grow and age. This is because the aging and decay phases of forests are particularly rare in our commercial forests. The Bavarian Forest and Harz National Parks set a good example here, as the forest is allowed to regenerate undisturbed by humans over large areas. But the WWF also shows how ‘primeval forests of tomorrow’ are created over the course of years, decades and centuries.