Forests are habitats for many animal and plant species, carbon sinks, water reservoirs, suppliers of raw materials and, last but not least, places of health and relaxation for those seeking recreation. However, the Forest Condition Survey (Waldzustandserhebung) 2020 paints a serious picture of the situation for Germany: "Only 21 percent of all trees still have no crown thinning. In addition, there is a strongly increasing rate of dieback." The lack of water as a trigger for this development seems to be continuing: April 2021 was also "clearly too dry", according to the German Weather Service.
"The forest exemplifies the challenges of the climate crisis in other areas as well," says DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde. "What is needed is forest management that not only adapts to climate impacts, but also mitigates them at the same time." This is where the Foundation gets involved as a mediator between nature conservationists, foresters, forest owners and science, through its funding work and as a forest owner in the DBU Natural Heritage (see also: DBU aktuell 07/2020, interview with the director of DBU Naturerbe GmbH Susanne Belting, in German).
Habitats for threatened species
For example, science and forestry can work together to create habitats for threatened species: in a current project, the Rottenburg University of Applied Sciences is developing transferable action strategies for the protection of light forest species that are also compatible with forest management objectives (DBU-AZ 34311). Among others, the blue-black kingfisher, a butterfly species, or the mountain vetch, a moth species, benefit from this. In order to secure the population of yellow-bellied toads, the University of Hohenheim, in coordination with six forestry districts and the Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg, is testing a series of measures to create temporary small water bodies that can be easily integrated into management (DBU-AZ 34639).
Scientific input is also provided by the DBU scholarship programmes: Benjamin Hesse, a doctoral fellow, investigated the effects of drought stress on beech and spruce and was able to show that prolonged and repeated periods of drought severely affect both beech and spruce, with spruce showing stronger symptoms of stress. As part of the Fellowship Programme for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Vit Kaspar proved that the forest canopy is capable of reducing seasonal and daily temperature amplitudes and made it possible to model the forest microclimate taking this buffer effect into account.
Showing economic perspectives
Dr. Reinhard Stock, DBU Head of the Nature Conservation Division, points out that financial recognition is also a way to increase forest conservation: "We believe it is very important to develop a scientifically sound but practical set of instruments for recording, evaluating and rewarding forest ecosystem services. On this basis, forest owners could be remunerated in future if they implement measures to promote biodiversity in the forest or, for example, promote water storage through the rewetting of degraded peatland sites." A DBU project on the management of oak forests (DBU-AZ 32694) showed that economic success of oak management is possible while maintaining habitat continuity. Here, habitat trees or habitat tree groups are preserved during harvesting and regeneration measures. Further building blocks are the continuation or reactivation of historical forms of management with sparse stand structures such as coppice, middle forest or hute forest.
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