Jan 2021 Speaker Stefan Feller - Forestry in Germany

We had a very international meeting today with a Speaker from Germany and guests from Germany, France, Cumbria and Cambridge. The many questions at the end showed how involved the audience became.

Stefan gave a great talk with slides that were an excellent mix of graphs and lovely scenic views of the Bavarian forests around his home.

He explained that his role is to advise on how to balance the recreational use of the Forest and its commercial use, while keeping the trees a healthy and diverse mix and the use of state subsidies.

This is made more complex in his area, as opposed to other areas of Germany, in that historically much of the wooded areas are privately owned and much divided into fairly small strips. Traditionally each small local farm owned an area of woodland to use as a source of wood to sell or burn for heat, and over the years these have been split into smaller and smaller areas as one generation inherits from the last. The law demands free access for all to the forests so fences are not common. There are also community owned and state owned areas.

So having an overall strategy means much negotiation with all the interested parties !

The trees involved are mainly native to the area and a split between deciduous eg Beeches and Oaks vs evergreen Spruce, Scots Pine and Larch. Further north and east in the country there is an increase in evergreens.

To counteract climate change the more diverse a mix that is close to nature then the more likely the woodland will survive and be a rich source of wildlife. His approach is very detailed and each mature tree is rated for its contribution to this aim and carefull marked to ensure they are not felled by mistake.

Some challenges from eg Bark Beetle and Ash die-back disease cause real problems and must be addressed promptly and efficiently when found.  Also larger animals eg Roe Deer and Wild Boar can dig up newly planted trees when diversity or gaps are worked on.

Stefan sums his approach up as "Optimise NOT Maximise" and hopes to achieve a balance between access to walkers, hunters, wood sellers and wild nature.

A favourite quote " Is a forest 10,000 sq meters of timber OR the green joy of life for humankind ?" - Brecht.