Forest in Losheim am See: Climate change is causing trees to suffer!

Forest in Losheim am See: Climate change is causing trees to suffer!

In the community of Losheim am See, the situation of the forests has changed dramatically in recent years. Annual logging now amounts to around 25,000 cubic meters, which has a significant impact on local forestry. This is a drastic increase compared to the usual 10,000 cubic meters a few years ago. This development is primarily due to the climatic conditions, which have already led to dry, low-rain years and mild winters since 2018. According to the analysis by saarbruecker-zeitung.de, the coniferous forests that characterize the region are suffering from an increase in tree pests, especially the Bark beetle.

Forest management in Losheim is led by district managers Sönke Sonnenberg-Metto and Kilian Schäfer, who have to overcome the challenges of dealing with these pests under the given climatic conditions. Comprehensive protection and sustainable management of forests is urgently needed to maintain the ecological, social and economic functions of forests.

Decline in logging in Germany

The situation in Losheim reflects nationwide trends, which saw a decline in logging to 70.6 million cubic meters in Germany in 2023. This represents a decrease of 10.3 percent compared to the previous year, reports zeit.de. While wind and storm damage were only responsible for 4.9 million cubic meters of logging, the bark beetle alone caused 26.6 million cubic meters of damaged wood. The forecasts are alarming: In view of climate change and increasingly frequent years of heat and drought, forests in Germany are at great risk.

The share of damaged wood in the total volume of logging is now almost 55 percent. These data highlight the massive threat to forest ecosystems. The condition in which many trees, especially spruces, die as a result of insect infestation makes comprehensive forest care and reforestation essential.

Ecological and economic challenges

Forests in Germany cover around 11.4 million hectares, which corresponds to around a third of the land surface. As umweltbundesamt.de notes, these ecosystems fulfill important functions. They are significant carbon sinks and their destruction contributes to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years there has been a worrying increase in forest damage caused by climatic anomalies and pests.

The challenges in the field of forestry are constantly increasing. Declines in the growth rates of tree species such as beech, oak and pine as well as the increasing death rates of spruce and pine are alarming. Political measures are now promoting climate-stable planting and forest conversion in order to counteract these negative trends.

With the increasing threat of pests and climate-related damage to forests, a rethink in forestry is necessary in order to preserve forests as valuable resources. The timber market needs to develop, particularly with regard to the use of hardwood in structural timber construction. The future of the forests in Losheim and Germany depends on the successful implementation of these challenges.