First woman to head the Thuringian State Forest: Geißler will take over in 2026

First woman to head the Thuringian State Forest: Geißler will take over in 2026

From 2026, Corinna Geißler will take over the management of the Thuringian State Forest and thus assume an important position in a German federal state. She is the first woman to hold this position and is therefore a true pioneer in the forestry industry. Geißler currently heads the Forestry Research and Competence Center in Gotha and has prevailed in a Germany-wide selection process thueringen24.de reported.

Thuringia's Forestry Minister Tilo Kummer is enthusiastic about Geißler's appointment. Her main concern will be to adapt the Thuringian forests to climate change, which she sees as an essential challenge. She notes that the current state of forests is severely affected by human activity and intends to bring these issues more to the forefront of public discussion.

Modernization of forestry

From 2024, the state forestry institute will be led by a mixed dual leadership team. In addition to Geißler, Jörn Ripken will also be part of the leadership, while Volker Gebhardt, who previously headed the forestry institute, will retire at the end of 2023. Geißler is faced with the task of mastering the demographic change within the forestry institute, as the structure of the teams and the required skills are changing significantly. This also means that over 1,400 employees and trainees can find comprehensive and meaningful work, such as mdr.de emphasized.

An important concern of Geißler is the promotion of new planting times and the support of natural processes in the forest. These innovative methods are intended to make Thuringia's forests more robust, richer in structure and more species-rich. Speaking of diversity: There is currently high demand for study places in the field of “Forestry and Ecosystem Management”, with 311 applications for just eight places. This shows the growing interest of young people in forestry.

Women in forestry

The role of women in forestry is becoming increasingly important internationally. Initiatives such as “Forest in Women’s Hands” and the Fem4Forest project show how important it is to promote the interests of women in this industry. These projects have taken on international dimensions and aim to develop targeted measures for forest owners and women in forestry. In addition, awareness is created to strengthen and support the role of women in forestry, such as forstfrauen.at describes.

Geißler's appointment is not only a step towards modern forestry, but also a sign of equality in an area that has long been dominated by men. The challenges facing the forests require committed and innovative solutions - and with the first women at the helm, Thuringia will certainly embark on an exciting path.