From monoculture to mixed forest: a visit to the forest in Warndt delights nature lovers

From monoculture to mixed forest: a visit to the forest in Warndt delights nature lovers

An exciting forest excursion took place in the Warndt Forest last Thursday, which was originally planned for the summer but had to be postponed due to the high temperatures. Despite unfavorable weather conditions with rain and squalls, over 20 nature-loving participants and four dogs gathered and followed the explanations of district forester Marcel Kiefer and forest inspector candidate Maja Wild. The appointment was specifically intended for Environment Minister Petra Berg (SPD), but she was unable to attend due to illness. The main theme of the event was “From monoculture to mixed forest”.

Forest management in the Großrosseln district has changed significantly in recent years. Currently almost 90 percent of the forest consists of deciduous tree species. This diversity contributes significantly to reducing the risk of total loss due to pests or diseases. The foresters show the participants an area from which many spruce trees have been removed. This light emission enabled the natural vegetation to be stimulated, which led to chestnuts and beeches to plant themselves.

Sustainable forest management and protection measures

Human intervention in the forest only occurs when necessary and nature cannot rejuvenate itself. So jays bury acorns, some of which are forgotten as hiding places, leading to the formation of new oak trees. During the excursion it became clear that young trees are at risk. Threats such as roe deer, blackberry hedges and bracken made protective measures necessary to ensure the continued existence of young tree species.

Another aspect of forest care is the “ringing” method, in which a ring of bark is removed to allow the tree to die in a controlled manner. Dead trees remain in the forest as deadwood, which not only provides habitat for many species but also stores water. Marcel Kiefer has created around 30 retention basins over the last three years to retain water during heavy rainfall, which contributes to sustainable forest management.

Leading diversity: nature conservation meets forest management

This exchange about sustainable methods correlates with projects that are being carried out throughout Europe, such as the funding project “Biodiversity and Multifunctional Management in Forests” (BIMUWA), which is being implemented in Austria. The aim of this project is to develop a guiding principle for biodiversity conservation, which will be developed in collaboration with forestry stakeholders and environmental organizations. Forests take up almost 50 percent of the area in Austria and are therefore crucial for maintaining biodiversity.

The project aims to promote integrative nature conservation measures in forest management and supports the Austrian Forest Strategy 2020+. Specialist events and a best-practice excursion in Carinthia have already produced important results for promoting biodiversity, which are also important for regional forestry.

The excursion to the Warndt Forest illustrates how important the exchange between nature lovers, foresters and politicians is in order to promote sustainable and diverse forest management that balances both economic and ecological aspects. The preservation of biological diversity remains one of the top goals, which must also be increasingly taken into account in forest management in the future.