Discover the Werdau Forest: Free excursion on July 22nd!

Discover the Werdau Forest: Free excursion on July 22nd!

In the beautiful Werdau Forest, forest owners and interested parties have the opportunity to find out everything they need to know about the current state of the forests on an exciting excursion on July 22nd. Organized by the Plauen forestry district of the Sachsenforst, district forester Karsten Preußner leads the event. It starts at 4.30 p.m. at the car park at Waldbad Fraureuth, where there is no entry fee and no prior registration is required. These informative excursions are an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas about the challenges and opportunities in the forest.

A central topic will be ongoing and planned forest conversion, which is becoming increasingly important in view of growing challenges, such as bark beetle infestation. The bark beetle, which has been favored by strong storms and extreme drought in recent years, has caused massive damage, especially to spruce forests. But deciduous trees such as beech and oak are also affected, which requires necessary adjustments in forest management. Funding from the state and federal governments is becoming increasingly important.

Funding and support

The current situation in the forestry industry makes it clear how immensely important the support measures are. At the federal and state levels there are measures that run until 2026 for both already approved and new applications. Increasing the funding rate for forest conversions creates an incentive to actively manage the forest. From August 16, 2024, the funding for renovation work outside of protected areas will be increased from 70% to 75% and for protected areas even from 70% to 85%. At a time when ecological responsibility is required, attention is also paid to biodegradable materials when using growth covers.

In order to adapt the forests in Germany to climate change, the Federal Ministry of Forestry has already taken various measures in the past in collaboration with the federal states. An aid package of 478 million euros at the federal level secured financing for private and municipal forest owners between 2020 and 2023. For 2024, the budget plans include up to 125 million euros for forest conversion and reforestation.

The question of timber harvesting and sustainable management

The average raw wood potential in Germany is currently 80.6 million m³ per year, but there is already a declining potential for spruces and pines, while it is increasing for deciduous trees. This should encourage forest owners to plant climate-friendly tree species and adapt to current conditions. For the coming year, a clear focus will be placed on economically viable and climate-adapted management as part of the “Climate Adaptation Culture” funding program.

The measures taken, some of which also include forest protection measures such as monitoring and combating harmful organisms, show how crucial a proactive and collaborative approach is in forestry. To ensure that the forests are preserved for future generations, all stakeholders are required to work actively and find innovative solutions. This excursion to the Werdau Forest could be the opportunity for many to do exactly that and take a step towards sustainable forest management together.