Future of the forests: How the Harz is fighting against climate change

Future of the forests: How the Harz is fighting against climate change

Harz, Deutschland - The forest - an important habitat and constant companion of man in Central Europe - faces major challenges that are reinforced by climate change and human interventions. In a new project in the Harz, the potential and limits of reforestation strategies are to be examined in order to save the valuable habitat forest.

Three different forest areas are researched according to a uniform pattern. An area is left to nature, while a second is classified. Resistant tree species are used on the third area, which are specifically robust against changing climatic conditions. So you want to find out which method provides the best results in the long term. Project manager Andreas Bolte from the Thünen Institute for Waldökosysteme emphasizes the need to include all central groups of actors in the processes, because "the rescue of the forests can only succeed in society as a whole", such as MDR reported.

digital innovations for research

An exciting element of the project is the use of modern technologies. Digital replicas should help test the results and transfer them to larger areas. The interdisciplinary approach, which combines traditional forestry observations with AI methods and model-based simulations, was highlighted by the UFZ-Remember Customer Daniel Doctor. This recognizes dynamic changes in the forest ecosystem faster in order to better predict future conditions.

Another interdisciplinary project that deals intensively with the consequences of climate change for our forests is the special exhibition "Digital Forest" in the forum. Here, visitors on 80 square meters can impressively experience the effects of long drought on trees and water transport in them. Professores from the Universities of Göttingen and Leipzig show the use of the latest technologies in expertise in expertise to explore drought damage and to predict the result of climate extreme. Interactive elements such as the team game "Kipppunkt" also provide exciting insights into the climatic challenges, while virtual reality glasses enable visitors to experience the work of the scientists up close. This unique exhibition runs from October 25, 2023 to February 4, 2024 and also offers workshops and guided tours, as reports Forum Wissen.

The forest in change

The situation of the forests as a whole has changed in the past few decades. Reports about forest deaths, especially in the resin through dryness and bark beetle, illustrate the problems in front of which the domestic forests are facing. Despite the challenges, the forest area in Germany has been increasing for around 50 years: According to the third federal forest inventory from 2012, Germany has around 11.4 million hectares of forest - the area grows an average of 176 square kilometers annually. In particular, the number of deciduous trees and the variety of forests rise, while there is a decline in coniferous forests, since monocultures - especially spruce areas - are badly affected due to storms and beetle attack. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that bare areas often do not give a reason to worry, since they are part of forest policy goals, such as Erenja explained.

Further reforestation projects, including non -governmental organizations, promote forest growth and biodiversity. A natural forest with dead wood supports biodiversity and secures the future of our forests in times of change.