- Youth advocating for woods - financial commitment towards forestry education
Over a fifth of Thuringia's forests have succumbed to drought and bark beetle attacks, affecting a staggering 120,000 hectares. This grim scenario poses significant challenges to the Breitenworbis Forest Nursery in the Eichsfeld region, as said by Agriculture Minister Susanna Karawanskij (Left) prior to an event marking the 60th anniversary of the state institution. Karawanskij explained, "The ravaged land serves as a massive, outdoor lab for forest adaptation to climate change."
Since 2018, roughly ten million saplings have been planted across more than 11,000 hectares in both state-owned and privately/communally managed forests. This translates to nearly ten percent of the damaged areas undergoing active replanting efforts. Karawanskij stated, "The Breitenworbis Forest Nursery has been instrumental in this. The institution is more critical now than ever before."
Approximately thirty-two tree varieties are cultivated in the nursery. A significant portion of the seed comes from the state-owned seed nursery, which is collected through seed collectors from local trees. Around half of the damaged areas are being gradually replanted with species suitable for the local environment.
Karawanskij expressed gratitude that Thuringia continued to support the nursery when the state's seedling production was put into question. Other regions had discontinued their seedling production decades ago, according to the minister.
The Breitenworbis Forest Nursery offers a wide variety of planting materials adapted to regional forest conversion. Thirty-two tree species are grown there, including white fir, oak, beech, Douglas fir, pine, maple, and lime, as well as scarce tree species like serviceberry, service tree, wild pear, and yew.
According to the minister, the state has enhanced the Forest Nursery's financing and staff. Currently, an investment is being made in a greenhouse. Rare and expensive tree and shrub species can be cultivated inside the greenhouse.
The Forest Nursery produces up to two million plants annually. It collaborates closely with the forestry research and competence center in Gotha, which includes trial tree species in climate change and establishing additional seed orchards.
State funds are being used to modernize the facility, which was established in 1964. Currently, new greenhouses and shade houses are being built to replace old plastic greenhouses at an estimated cost of 2.2 million euros. This will allow for a substantial increase in tree cultivation in containers.
After the damages caused by drought and bark beetle attacks, the Breitenworbis Forest Nursery is crucial in replanting suitable tree species across the affected areas. The nursery, located in the Eichsfeld region, grows a variety of tree species, including white fir, oak, and pine, to aid in forest adaptation and restoration.
