display

Kassel / Friedrichsdorf (dpa / lhe) - The condition of Hesse's forests has deteriorated again in the past year, according to foresters.

It was again too warm and too dry, said Michelle Sundermann, spokeswoman for Hessen Forst in Kassel: "As a result, we had to set another negative record in 2020: the forest is doing worse than ever before."

According to the Forest Condition Report, 2019 was previously considered to be the year with the “worst condition since recording began”.

The bark beetle remains the biggest problem.

The pest targets spruce trees in particular.

According to the forest administration, the north is more affected than the south by the consequences.

Large areas could no longer be saved in 2020.

"Instead, we have concentrated on the forests in the middle and east of Hesse, where our measures still promise success," explained Sundermann.

If the coming year starts sufficiently wet, the foresters would be able to take a breather.

"But if the trend continues, we will not be able to maintain the proportion of spruce trees in Hessen."

This is 21 percent.

The reforestation is in full swing.

By the end of 2020, four million new trees will have been planted on the forest areas that have been affected by storms, drought and insect infestation.

"Our goal is to reforest a total of around five million young trees on an area of ​​around 1,500 hectares in the Hessian state forest in 2021."

That corresponds to an area of ​​2100 soccer fields.

display

Through the so-called twelve-point plan of the state for the protection of forests, 30 million euros will flow to Hessen Forst annually until 2023.

There is additional money from the loan-financed Corona special fund of Hesse.

The land is the largest forest owner, but not the only one.

In addition to municipalities (36 percent), private individuals also own land (25 percent).

Both groups are represented by the Hessian Forest Owners Association.

He speaks of a "catastrophic situation".

There is a lack of money for reforestation, says managing director Christian Raupach: "For the forest farmers and foresters who deal with it every day, the psychological and physical strain is enormous."

In the municipal and private forest in Hessen, around 35,000 hectares of forest were bare in May.

That corresponds to 49,000 soccer fields.

"It can be assumed that this area has continued to increase sharply in summer and autumn this year and is currently increasing," says Raupach.

display

For forest owners and forestry, this is a threat to their very existence: "Many companies have lost considerable parts of their standing timber supply."

The wood prices are at a historic low.

Since the logging companies only worked against payment in advance, the forest owners could no longer pay them.

"Many forest owners have reached their credit limit and have to stop fighting the bark beetle reproduction."

After all, the state's twelve-point plan also gives private forest owners the opportunity to get grants.

However, the question still arises as to how forest owners can survive economically in the future.

Because the main source of income is the sale of the wood.

"In the next 30 years, no income will be generated on the fallen forest areas."

According to forest owners, compensation could be provided by a sustainability premium, which should be paid out of the taxation of CO2 emissions.

Figures on the forest in Hessen