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Storm of dangers: tree felling in Sulz for more safety!
In Sulz, tree felling is being carried out to increase safety and counteract the consequences of drought and climate change.
Storm of dangers: tree felling in Sulz for more safety!
In Sulz, a municipality in Germany, extensive tree felling is currently taking place. These measures are primarily intended to increase the security of the population. A key problem for the trees in the region is the increasing drought and fungal infestation, which is severely affecting the trees. Heavy rain-like weather events also increase the risk of mudslides, making the situation even more dangerous. This is reported by the Black Forest messenger.
The tree felling is part of a broader approach to making forests more resilient to the challenges of climate change. A report from Thünen Institute illustrates that climate change is leading to more frequent heat and drought extremes, which will significantly change the tree species composition in forests. Around 2.85 million hectares, i.e. 25 percent of today's forests, are particularly sensitive to these environmental conditions.
Measures to secure forests
In order to make forests climate-proof, active management is necessary. The financial requirement for the necessary renovations is estimated at between 13 and 43 billion euros over the next 30 years. In addition, the annual conversion area would have to be quadrupled to 95,000 hectares in order to achieve the ambitious conversion goals by 2050. The establishment of mixed forests with different tree species is crucial for securing forests, as these can minimize the risk of damage.
A recommended strategy also includes incorporating native tree species such as beech or oak from drier regions to increase the adaptability of forests. In drier and warmer locations, expanding the range of tree species is even recommended. These include native species such as sweet chestnut and winter linden tree as well as introduced species from southeastern Europe such as the Hungarian oak and the hop beech. Importing species with distributions in dry summer climates, such as Douglas fir and red oak, is also being considered.
Scientists and practitioners are required to work together to develop a selection and mixture of tree species that is optimally tailored to future climatic conditions. These measures are essential to protect Germany's forests from the increasingly pressing challenges of climate change and at the same time ensure the safety of local residents.