Forestry Minister Unveils Struggles and Plans for North Rhine-Westphalia's Forests
Minister of Forestry, Silke Gorißen (CDU), took the stage in Düsseldorf to discuss the sorry state of North Rhine-Westphalia's forests in 2023. Factors such as drought, fires, and insect infestations have left their grim mark on the region's flora. The 2022 report, unfortunately, painted little hope with only 28% of examined trees showing no signs of decay or loss.
Good news may come in the form of fewer forest fires during this summer’s comparatively wetter weather. A representative from Wald und Holz NRW reported at the end of October how the frequency and severity of such fires were lower than in preceding years.
Minister Gorißen announced bonuses for the reintroduction of dead forest areas in September. This incentive aims at bolstering the growth of climate-resilient mixed forests. An impressive 25.6% of NRW is comprised of forest cover, with 63% of it being privately owned. NRW's astounding 935,000 hectares are dominated by deciduous trees, mainly beech and oak, while conifers (predominantly spruce) occupy around 42% of the space.
The Forest Condition Report has been tracking the health of the region's forests since 1984. By assessing the vitality of tree crowns, the report offers insights on the overall condition of the forest stands. The loss of leaves and needles is meticulously evaluated using a standardized national procedure.
Supporting Forest Recovery
With a mere 28% of trees demonstrating complete health, the urgency for forest recovery is palpable. Minister Gorißen has taken action to alleviate these environmental concerns with bonus incentives, focusing on the establishment of climate-resilient mixed forests.
Enrichment Insights
Challenges faced by forest ecosystems, particularly in Hesse, could offer clues concerning North Rhine-Westphalia's forest health. Drought stress, increased evaporation, and altered precipitation patterns demonstrate the influence of climate change upon the forestry sector. Selecting climate-adapted tree species and fostering mixed forests—both showcased in the Hessian model—can promote long-term forest sustainability.
In Hesse, the North-West German Forest Research Institute (NW-FVA) has developed region-specific recommendations for climate-adapted tree species compositions based on factors such as water and nutrient balances. The project, which has involved stakeholders like HessenForst and the Hessian Forest Owners’ Association, recommends thirty-four forest development types with a focus on multiple forest functions.
HessenForst collaborated with the Hessian Forest Owners’ Association to transform the recommendations into state regulations, entailing an obligation for forest owners to reforest damaged areas within six years. In addition, subsidies are supplied to help compensate for reforestation expenses, with site-specific recommendations being mandatory for financial assistance.
Training and knowledge transfer efforts support forest owners and foresters in implementing the recommendations, ensuring that the region’s forests adapt and thrive in the ever-changing climate. Effective channels include on-site training, instructional videos, user-friendly documentation, and workshops.
The approach demonstrated in Hesse is highly replicable, as proved by its successful implementation in North Rhine-Westphalia within the SUPERB project. The sound principles of integrating climate-adapted tree species recommendations into state regulations, offering subsidies, and ensuring effective training make it an attractive model for forest recovery initiatives.
