Sturm Ravages Tegeler and Spandauer Forst: Worked weeks blocked!

Sturm Ravages Tegeler and Spandauer Forst: Worked weeks blocked!

After the devastating storm damage from last Thursday, the forest in Berlin is currently under high tension. Both the Tegeler and the Spandauer Forst have been blocked since the storms, as the Senate Department for the Environment announced on Monday. The clean -up work on the edges of the forests are in full swing, while there is still a risk of falling branches and falling tree tops. A spokesman for the Berlin Forestry makes it clear that the closures could continue for weeks. The streets and paths in the Tegeler Forst in particular are badly affected, since numerous trees have been uprooted or kinked and the access routes have to be cleared in some cases in order to gain a complete picture of the damage.

not enough! In the Niederneuendorfer Allee in Berlin-Spandau, a fallen tree even exposed a world war bomb, which must now be defused. This shows how complex the consequences of the storm are and what challenges are waiting for the clean -up teams. Only in the coming week will forestry employees expect a detailed overview of the damage in the Berlin forests, which will be a real feat, because work inside the forests can only begin after the edge work has been completed.

The effects on the environment

The storm damage throw a light on the general problems in forestry. As shown by Greenpeace, not only the storm is a risk for the forests, but also the monocultures that prevail in many German forests. Monocultures, especially with fast -growing conifers, make the forests more susceptible to pests and drought. These trees such as spruce and pine are often not rooted in the region and show increased vulnerability. In addition, heavy machines that are used for the wooden harvest have large risks to the forest floor. The compression of the soil by these machines makes water intake difficult, which has fatal consequences, especially in drought.

While the parks of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens have largely opened in Brandenburg, a shaker after the general forest management remains after taste, because bald strikes and the use of chemistry in forestry endanger the biodiversity and the natural regeneration of the forests.

The events in Berlin not only seem to be unique natural events, but also raise fundamental questions about the sustainable management of our forests. Understanding the importance of biodiversity will be put into the foreground again these days - there is something and it remains to be seen how those responsible will tackle the challenges.

The situation in the forests is still attentively observed, because the dangers from storm damage and improper management are precalent. A rethink in forestry could be necessary to focus on the forests as ecosystems worth protecting.

For more information on the current location in the Tegeler and Spandauer Forst, see also the reports of rbb24 and Tagesspiegel . Findings on forestry offers Greenpeace .