Drought, storms, bark beetles: many trees are under stress. The German forests should also be better prepared for climate change. A comprehensive discussion process is now to be started on this.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is launching a broad dialogue on the future of forests in Germany. Several associations and organizations are expected to start this Monday, as the ministry in Berlin announced. Forestry and timber industry, nature conservationists, representatives of hunting, recreation and sport can participate.
The process is intended to prepare a new forest strategy for the federal government, which should be in place by summer 2024. Then a new version of the federal forest law should come into the cabinet. The goal for long-term development is to further promote the protection and preservation of forests and sustainable use, said a spokeswoman.
Many forests have been badly hit by storms, drought and pests. According to the ministry, 400,000 hectares of damaged areas have been created since 2018 – there are a total of around eleven million hectares of forest in Germany. Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) said in May after a conference with his country colleagues that provisions in the forest law, some of which are more than 40 years old, should be modernized. A Germany-wide standard for forest management should be created. In addition, additional services for forest owners for climate protection and biodiversity are to come.
Forest law is to be amended
SPD, Greens and FDP have agreed in the coalition agreement: “By targeted forest conversion, species-rich and climate-resilient forests with predominantly native tree species must be created. Forest management plays an important role in this.” According to these goals, the forest law should be amended.
Further events are planned for the beginning of the Ministry’s “Forest Dialogue on the Future”. After an evaluation of the positions of the associations, topic-related forums are to follow in the autumn. The federal government last decided on a forest strategy more than ten years ago, as the ministry explained. Since then, however, the consequences of climate change have widened, and the loss of biodiversity has intensified. Shortly before the 2021 federal elections, the Ministry of Agriculture had presented a “Forest Strategy 2050” – but it was created without coordination with the other ministries and without a cabinet decision, as the ministry explained.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
