Bad Laasphe switches to reforestation: goodbye spruces, welcome oaks!

Bad Laasphe switches to reforestation: goodbye spruces, welcome oaks!

The forests in North Rhine-Westphalia are facing serious challenges, especially in Bad Laasphe. Philip Dahme from Wald und Holz NRW describes the worrying effects of the drought on spruce stands and the threat from the dreaded bark beetle. This pest has already caused significant damage, damaging many spruce trees. A sharp look by the Siegen-Wittgenstein Regional Forestry Office shows that numerous forest areas are marked as destroyed because calamities have severely damaged the tree population. “We have to identify the vital stands and, if necessary, do without the spruce,” says Dahme.

In addition to spruce, native oak species also struggle with high temperatures and related pests. The oak jewel beetle, which is a real eye-catcher with its shimmering green shell and two white spots on the wings, poses a serious threat to oak forests. The beetle's eggs are laid in bark between May and August. The young larvae bore through the bark and cause considerable damage to the cambium, which severely disrupts the transport of nutrients and the vitality of the trees. Weakened trees are particularly susceptible to this pest, which further exacerbates the situation, as rp-online.de reports.

Reforestation efforts in Bad Laasphe

In order to counteract these challenges, reforestation measures in Bad Laasphe are underway at a high pace. Niels Roßkothen, the new district forester, explains that in the future more tree species such as beech, oak and hornbeam will be planted. These are intended to reforest the areas previously depleted by spruce trees. Currently around 60% of the affected areas with an estimated 100,000 plants have already been reforested, while 100 hectares are still in the reforestation process. For this purpose, areas with existing regeneration are particularly prioritized.

The current change in the forest is also influenced by consideration of economic aspects. As wald-und-holz.nrw.de shows in their studies, it is no longer just about the proportion of needles, which was 80% before the calamities. Sustainable forest management promotes a variety of tree species in an area to create a healthy permanent forest. In the future, red oak, birch, poplar and maple will increasingly grow on the calamity areas - and conifer species such as pine and larch will also be found here.

The way forward

The state forestry administration takes numerous factors into account when managing forests, such as location, climate and soil conditions. There is a clear plan in sight: Away from the one-sided coniferous forest towards a diversified and climate-fit forest. The goal is to revitalize the drastically damaged areas with substantial reforestation measures and thus secure the forests for future generations. The focus on tree species that can thrive under current climate conditions is one of the essential elements of this strategy.

The challenges are great, but with a good knack for reforestation, diversity and sustainability, a living forest could soon bloom again in Bad Laasphe.