We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Regional climate protection contribution of forests without forestry use
Project
Project code: 28WA5100
Contract period: 01.07.2016
- 31.08.2019
Budget: 1,077,878 Euro
Purpose of research: Public relations
Unmanaged forests can make large contributions to the fight against climate change. Via the project “Regionaler Klimaschutzbeitrag von Wäldern ohne forstliche Nutzung (Acronym: SpeicherWald)”, Climate Alliance and the Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union – NABU) are showing how through various informational materials and regional events.
With their trees and soil acting as carbon sinks, unmanaged forests absorb more carbon dioxide than forests in which timber is harvested. Such unmanaged forests thus both support global climate change mitigation efforts and biodiversity conservation.
A wide variety of threatened plant and animal species depend on the natural process of ageing and decay. A single tree trunk, for example, can feed a great number of specialised organisms for more than 200 years. Un-managed forests help to protect and restore habitats vital to rare species and species with high ecological value. Forests with high natural levels of disturbance and varied patch structures are characterised by robust ecosystem cycles and, therefore, are adapted to changing environments such as those fostered by climate change. The high adaptive capacity of such forests ensures their survival and thus their continued climate change mitigation capac-ity even on problematic sites characterised by low nutrient supply, low precipitation or drought.
The German national biodiversity strategy, launched in 2007, stipulates that five percent of the entire forest area and ten percent of the community forest be left untouched by 2020. Currently, only 1.9 percent of Germany’s forest area can be considered unmanaged, natural forest. This includes forest stock left unmanaged both by legal obligation, as is the case with national parks, as well as via voluntary commitments of state forestry departments.
The SpeicherWald project aims to raise awareness amongst the German public about the importance of unman-aged forests for regional climate change mitigation efforts and to increase basic knowledge about the connection between forest ecosystems and climate change. It shows that, even in a county like Germany, (secondary) an-cient forests can flourish. In addition to common climate change mitigation measures such as the use of engi-neered wood products, renewable energy expansion and energy savings, the SpeicherWald project promotes awareness for an issue that has received only little attention until now.
To this end, five model regions should been chosen in which environmental education in schools, dialogues and informational events, a cartoon competition and trainings for multipliers are being arranged. The events address interested members of the public, private forest owners and political stakeholders. The aim: to increase public acceptance for unmanaged forests and encourage locals to nurture the ancient forest right on their doorsteps.
Section overview
Subjects
- Silviculture
- Renewable Resources
- Climate Change
