Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) is concerned about developments in Germany’s forests. “We see that our forests are in crisis,” said Lemke in Frankfurt (Oder).
The consequences of the climate crisis are affecting the trees. At the same time, the pressure on forest use is increasing, the minister explained. The consumption of firewood is increasing massively in Germany.
A rethink is needed, emphasized Lemke. “We have to develop the vulnerable, unnatural forest stands into natural, climate-resilient mixed forests.” Under this condition, the forest can be a carbon store and a haven for local biodiversity. An important component is stopping felling in old, natural beech forests. In the federal forest alone, at least 500 hectares of unused beech forests are to be created by 2030, and twice as many by 2045.
