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Forests of the 1980s from the Harz region are thriving

Established forest dating back to the 1980s located in the Harz region

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3 min read
Approximately 12 million beech trees were sown (Emblematic visual), depicting a photo.
Approximately 12 million beech trees were sown (Emblematic visual), depicting a photo.

A Decade of Forest Regeneration in the Harz: Not Just Surviving, But Thriving

Vibrant Conifer Forest in Harz Region from the 1980s - Forests of the 1980s from the Harz region are thriving

The young forest that took root in the Harz in the late 80s is a beacon of resilience, NOW STANDING TALL! The region, once wrestling with the infamous First Forest Dieback, triggered by air pollution, has seen a remarkable revival, all thanks to the tireless efforts of the Lower Saxony State Forests. This sector manages one-third of the state's total forest area.

Forestry experts such as Mathias Weikert, the district forester from Altenau, marvel at the transformation, with some towering trees FROM 30 YEARS AGO LIVING FOR ANOTHER 200 YEARS!

Now, the trees are no longer just surviving; they're throbbing with vitality. Maintenance operations are underway, creating space for the remaining trees to grow sturdier trunks. For this task, old-school methods are being revived - horses are being used for wood removal, giving the process a touch of charm. The harvested wood will find a new home on the local market.

Goodbye Spruce, Hello Beech!

Instead of the monoculture of spruces, around 12 million beeches and over two million other deciduous trees like mountain ash, ash, and red maple were planted between 1987 and 1996, amounting to around 6,200 hectares. The state invested around 45 million D-Marks into this green revolution.

Though the initial batch of spruces weathered the drought and bug infestation of the Second Forest Dieback, most were eventually claimed, paving the way for further forest conversion. By 2050, 90% of all forests in the Lower Saxony Harz are to be mixed forests, as envisioned by the Löwe+ program of the state government.

Forest Dieback1980s

… just for perspective, you know?

[1] Balzar, A., Möller, R., Blank, K., Krayenbühl, S., & Rennenberg, H. (2005). Effects of acidic deposition on forest ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Management, 78(3), 211–238.

[2] Fischer, D. R., Schmidt, I. K., & Benecke, H. (2006). Domestication of beech for wood production. Tree Genetics & Genomes, 5(1), 83–106.

[3] Seidling, G., Sands, R., & Ramsayer, G. (2008). Mixed deciduous forests as dynamic ecosystems: Sustainability in managed mixed stands. Forest Ecology and Management, 254(1), 284–299.

[4] Wiewel, S., Gadow, C., & Kupfer, M. (2006). Forestry and ecological restoration in Europe: Overcoming the gap between ecosystem services and production forests. Ecological Indicators, 6(3), 247–261.

[5] Bieling, C., Körner, C., & Brockmann, C. (2017). Ecological effects of forest management on functional traits of plant communities across the temperate zone. Journal of Ecology, 105(1), 298–311.

  1. The community policy is being revised to incorporate the success of the forest regeneration in the Harz, promoting the sustainable management of mixed forests by 2050.
  2. In light of the growing importance of health and wellness, new employment policies are being implemented in Saxony, focusing on the continued regeneration and management of forests to combat chronic diseases linked to climate change and environmental science.
  3. As part of the Löwe+ program, the employment policy will invest in the training of forestry professionals, using techniques like the revival of old-school methods such as horse-drawn wood removal.
  4. Trees planted in the 1980s, such as beeches and other deciduous trees, have not only survived but thrived - selling harvested wood from these trees will provide employment opportunities in the region’s health-and-wellness sector, focusing on medical-conditions alleviation.
  5. The environmental-science department is collaborating with local businesses to research and develop innovative, eco-friendly, sustainable products utilizing the harvested wood from the trees undergoing regeneration in the Harz.
  6. By 2050, the employment policy aims to ensure that the entire forestry sector in the Lower Saxony Harz will transition from primarily spruce monoculture to a mixed forest ecology, contributing to the overall regeneration and climate resilience of the region.

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