Fight for the beech: Hammersbach's forest with big challenges!

Fight for the beech: Hammersbach's forest with big challenges!

The municipal forest in Hammersbach is faced with an important course that is shaped by the latest developments in the 2026 forestry plan. District forester Sebastian Stemmler presented a gratifying surplus of 6000 euros in the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Forestry. But the joy of the financial figures is overshadowed by the concern for the beech, which remains the problem child in the Hammersbach Forest. The old trees, especially those over 120 years, suffer greatly from the consequences of heat and drought, which questions their future as a stable factor in the forest. Stemmler expresses itself skeptically about the adaptability and stability of the beech in the next 50 years and recommends cutting down damaged specimens to make room for healthier trees.

"The discussion about the role of the beech runs through our consultations," said Stemmler. Other committee members are also concerned, but express hope that young plants can better adapt to the changed conditions. This deepening into the problem draws parallels to the general knowledge about the book in climate change. Because, as already Forest knowledge The beech remains an important tree species in Central Europe, but sees itself exposed to a certain distribution stress. Climate change has profound effects on stocks, whereby the course of these changes significantly depends on the future climatic conditions.

Financial planning and measures

According to Stemmler, the main revenues of 210,000 euros in the forest economy plan are primarily expected by harvesting wood. In order to equip the forest for the future, however, considerable investments are also planned: around 16,000 euros are provided for protection against game damage and new plantings. In addition, a sum of 27,500 euros is planned for the path entertainment to ensure the accessibility and care of the forest areas.

Another important topic is hunting. The hunters in Hammersbach are asked to hunt the roe deer more. In order to protect the young shoots of the trees, the shooting rate was increased by 30 percent. Mayor Michael Göllner makes it clear that this measure is not dangerous, but the controversial discussion shows how important it is to find a good level of wild population for forest health.

The future of beech forests

The challenges that the beech faces are reflected in the need to make the forests more resilient and more versatile. The Federal Office for Nature Conservation emphasizes that diverse and healthy forests are necessary for coping with the climate crisis that meet their ecological tasks. Research has also made progress in recent years and makes valuable contributions to improve the risk assessment in forestry practice. However, it remains clear that further efforts are necessary in order to research Buchen in particular and to secure long -term development.

In summary, the Hammersbach Forest is not only a place of nature, but also a center of intensive discussions and strategic considerations. The current forestry plan is a step in the right direction to cope with the challenges of climate change and to tackle the future of beech forests secured. So while the trees continue to hope for a positive development, the preservation of our forests and the protection of their biodiversity remains a central concern for the coming years.