Nature conservation in Bavarian forests

The goals, measures and results of forestry in Bavaria present themselves well. Here are a few examples:

• The conversion of tree species composition in Bavaria’s forests presents the largest area wide project ever in Germany to adapt forests to climate change. More than 70,000 hectares of unstable and vulnerable coniferous stands have been converted to stable, mixed deciduous forest stands in private, corporate and public forests. These mixed forests are a significant improvement for species protection.
• Natura 2000 in Bavaria pertains to habitats and species on 450,000 hectares of forest area. Results of surveys from the FFH Directive shows that on the majority of the areas a high level of quality for these protected natural resources exist. A positive trend for species on the IUCN Red List of endangered species can be seen in the forest. Species include the black stork, beaver and the European wildcat. There still exists a need for action on oak or pine habitats that are sometimes cultivated against nature due to engrained and established management practices!
• The funding of "special achievements for the common good" is a successful instrument that has been bringing conservation projects forward in public forests for the past ten years (e.g. the renaturation of raised bogs). The funding for private and corporate forests contains guidelines from the subsidy programs like the Forestry Conservation Contract Program.
• Results from the Third National Forest Inventory show that forested areas in Bavaria have continued to increase. The proportion of deciduous trees is about 36 percent, almost two-thirds more than the first large scale inventory in 1971. In young stands this proportion is even as high as 54 percent. The average age of the forests in Bavaria is 83 years and has risen by four years since the last inventory and is distinctly higher than the national average. The proportion of dead wood (i.e. coarse woody debris) is also higher than the national average and is approximately 22 m³ per hectare; in public forests it’s even higher at 35 m³. Additionally, the timber stocks clearly lie above the national average with 396 m³ per hectare.

Bavaria’s forests are a result of centuries of labor from forest owners and forest stewards that helped to form the cultivated landscape that characterizes our homeland. In comparison to global and historical standards, the forests of today have an exceptional condition. This is, however, no reason to sit back and take things easy. We are confronted with challenges such as climate change, danger from forest pests as well as an increase in the demand for wood as an energy and natural resource. More practices are necessary that serve to preserve the biological diversity in the forests and are built upon successes thus far. A variety of practices already incorporate the program for the implementation of the Bavarian Biodiversity Strategy.

No one can say with absolute assuredness what is correct. The philosophy that gains the most supporters is predominantly a matter of trust. Not all facts and arguments are decisive and there is a high dependency on gut instincts: Whose arguments can be trusted the most, who do you believe is capable of coming up with the best assessment and lastly, who can actually implement them?

Things become difficult since the framework is constantly changing; the effects from humans such as urbanization or climate change are quite considerable. Humans have always caused permanent effects but have also looked for answers to new challenges: The rising needs of a growing populace until the beginning of the modern age has lead to an extreme increase in the demand for wood and other forest products. Plundering, degradation and suffering were the result, however, innovations such as the science of sustainability also came about. The rising use of coal and other fossil fuels reduced the demand for wood as well as its price. Wood, forests and forestry lost importance. However, some results were the regeneration of the soils and forest stands plus innovations such as the development of the science of forest functions and new wood products. Increasing CO₂ concentrations from the combustion of fossil fuels have resulted in wide scale climate change. Massive damage from extreme weather and pests are the result, but innovations such as the switch to renewable resources and the systematical conversion of tree species composition in forest stands. The rising demand for wood and an increase in the proportion of deciduous trees will lead to new challenges and, quite surely, to new innovations.

The philosophy of the "sustainable usage and protection on the entire forest area" can never be completed and will never be static in nature. Instead, the philosophy needs to constantly be redeveloped and is a perpetual learning process. Regular surveys to assess the condition of the forests and its species are indispensable. An ethical obligation to continually research correlations in the forests and possible impacts is just as important.

Good answers to the mental and societal changes are crucial in order to deliver a sustainable concept. The forest sector can be proud of the successes from the past 300 years. The condition of the forests is much better today than in the past. This is hardly noticeable to the average passer by due to the typically slow pace at which changes in the forest take place. This is why we should, on a regular basis, constantly check and improve our philosophy internally. Next, this philosophy should be externally distributed in an understandable, honest, transparent and confident manner. Room should be left for critical questions, other ideas and constructive suggestions. An integrative, applied, near to natural multifunctional forestry offers the best equal opportunities for highly valued ecological, economical and social results. This wide and flexible concept can incorporate very different local conditions, expert knowledge or practicable ideas.