"Our Forest" – Fit for Climate Change
Storms, drought and bark beetles – the last few years have taken a heavy toll on our Hessian forest. The damage caused by climate change has never been more visible: entire mountain ranges have been deforested, and spruce, beech and other deciduous tree species are suffering to an unprecedented extent. In short: The forest ecosystem is under threat – and with it its diverse useful, protective and recreational functions.
We therefore have a major task ahead of us
Hundreds of areas, each as large as a soccer field, must be replanted – and preferably with mixed tree species that are climate-stable. Wherever new trees are already growing, we therefore supplement existing tree species, thus ensuring a balanced mix of tree species. We rely on high-quality seed and the plants grown from it. We can only make forests fit for climate change if they are reforested.
The mission: "Our forest" should become more resilient – after all, our children and grandchildren would like to enjoy it in the future as well.
Support our forest
Whether with a donation, as a sponsor or by taking up the spade yourself – every citizen can now help to reforest the damaged forest areas with climate-adapted tree species.
Donation ticker
"In 2020, thanks to your donations, we received for reforestation an amount of 188.209.94 (as of 31.12.2020). This amount will be distributed to the following five forest offices for extra reforestation projects: Wehretal, Nidda, Romrod, Herborn and Dieburg. We thank you very much.
In 2021, thanks to your commitment, donations in the amount of 183.309,72 € received. They will also be used for the reforestation of the project areas "Our Forest".
2022 donations have been received so far in the amount of 43.947,15 € received. Thank you for your donations and your commitment. The money will be used for the reforestation of the project areas "Our Forest".
Support the Hessian forest with a donation: For 5, – € we plant a tree for you! We will protect the forest in its first years of life from insect and game damage and make sure that "no grass grows over it" – that’s a promise!
We appreciate your donation to the account of the
Hessen Forst / Sparkasse Kassel
IBAN: DE82 5205 0353 0001 1295 82
Intended purpose: Donation "Our Forest", first name/last name
or via PayPal to HessenForst.
When do fees apply to a donation?
Bank transfer: There are no fees for your donation
PayPal: If paying by Paypal, there is a 35 cent fee plus 1.2% of the donation amount in PayPal fees.
*Donations can be made tax deductible. For donations of up to 300 euros, the bank statement will serve as a donation receipt. For this purpose, please send us a donation [email protected] to the e-mail box.hessen.de your address, your full name, your donated amount. as well as the day of the transfer with. With a donation you declare that you can be mentioned by name in the sponsoring report of the state government and on the homepage of HessenForst. Please note our privacy policy.
Forestry Office Frankenberg – Climate stability is the focus
Due to the drought of 2018 and 2019 and the resulting bark beetle calamity, spruce trees in the Rodenbach district of the Frankenberg forestry office also had to be removed over a large area. The area is located north of the half-timbered town of Frankenberg and is an important recreational area for the town’s population. Therefore, many walking and hiking trails cross the forest district of.
Annual oak plants in the Rodenbach forest district. (Photo: Dr. Jerôme Metz / HessenForst)
At the area reforested in spring, located northwest of Rodenbach, there is also a very distinctive habitat tree, the so-called Bat oak. Planting took place on 0.8 hectares with emphasis on oak due to its climate-stable properties. We have erected a wire fence to protect the young plants from game browsing and will keep an eye on the "nursery" in the coming years so that strong trees can develop.
This "kindergarten" is a bit tidier than a human one… rows of young oaks planted in a row. (Photo: Dr. Jerôme Metz / HessenForst)
Forestry office Reinhardswald – The Reinhardswald changes its face
The Reinhardswald forest on the foothills of the Weser slopes has been dominated by ancient beech and oak forests and extensive spruce forests, but bark beetles, storms and the drought of the past three years have taken their toll here as well. The conversion to more climate-stable mixed forests is in full swing.
Near the Oberes Holzapetal / Kasseler Schneise nature reserve in the spring of 2020, 800 red oaks were planted on ca. 0.3 hectares planted.
In the immediate vicinity of it are 16.800 sessile oaks on 2.1 hectares in 1. The forests have been planted in the first quarter of 2020.
The donated areas are located on wet, moist forest sites in the Sababurg forest district, which according to the current status (11/2020) is estimated at approx. 200 hectares of damaged area is affected. 25 hectares could already be reforested with oaks, alders, downy birches and Douglas fir on different areas.
The Reinhardswald – looks greener on the map than it currently appears in nature. Visit and see for yourself. (Map: HessenForst)
Fortunately the trees have grown well. Now it is necessary to protect them in the coming years, above all, from game browsing and to keep emerging accompanying vegetation "in check", so that they can safely outgrow the first dangerous years.
As you can see, there is still a lot to do! We invite you to join us in the reforestation campaign Our forest to support: Every tree counts!
Forest ranger Lukas Burschel inspects the freshly planted oak crop in his Sababurg forest ranger station. (Photo: Klemens Kahle /HessenForst)
Forestry Office Langen – Lucky: Before the lockdown in the forest
In the forestry office Langen takes place in the truest sense of the word shortly before 12 o’clock on 11. and 12. In March, a planting campaign took place in the Koberstadt Forest near Dreieich as a company event for a PR agency from the health sector. High noon in the woods, in the fresh air with space and distance – while the lockdown in Germany is closing everything down and forcing into the home office – what contrasts.
Highly motivated employees of the health agency plant under expert introduction and guidance of the forestry team on the two days 2.000 trees. In two groups of 35 people each, the experts in health and various medical fields try out their skills in the field. Yes, one is tempted to say: "mens sana in corpore sano" (in German: "A healthy mind can only live in a healthy body"), everyone pitches in and gets physically active, aching muscles included.
Currently popular "forest bathing" is rather out of the question on the cleared area, rather earth battle and mud experience. With humor, thirst for action and perseverance, "total power", the then head of the forestry office Roland Pieper (now Bad Schwalbach) still pays tribute today. He had not expected this before, especially since, he smiles, the light footwear would not have allowed him to imagine this commitment..
The area is prepared for 8.000 oaks and hornbeams. A quarter of the work is done with this office help, the rest will be finished by the forestry team the following week. Before this area was ready for reforestation, the 110-year-old beech stand was blown away by the storm in August 2019.
We would like to thank all the helpers and the team at the forestry office for their commitment!
Wolfhagen Forestry Office – Spring becomes autumn – Forest of the future
A forest edge at the Habichtswald should be replanted with the support of the donation of a foundation already in the spring. For this purpose, it was planned to actively carry out the forest edge design with the participation of the population and to plant shrubs and flowering trees as "bee pasture". Unfortunately, due to Corona we had to cancel the planting campaign. Therefore we have brought the plants with the FoJ’ler of the forest office Wolfhagen and further colleagues even into the earth. From a forestry point of view, this means "doing the planting ourselves".
Now, in the fall, 600 seedlings of the fluttering elm will be planted instead on a reforestation area on the high plateau of the Habichtswald forest. The Fluttering Elm, Ulmus laevis, Has been tree of the year 2019.
This area in the Habichtswald behind the Hercules, Kassel’s landmark and world cultural heritage site, is infested by the bark beetle and completely cleared of trees. Here, as well as in the entire region, massive forest damage has occurred due to drought and bark beetle infestation. We have erected a wire fence around the cultivated area to protect it from deer browsing and have planted a total of 4.000 oaks and 1.000 fluttering elms planted.
We are very grateful for the support in this project!
Near a former ammunition depot: First snow in early December on the fenced-in cultivated area – reforested with oaks and fluttering elms. (Photo: Rainer Weishaar / HessenForst)
This spring we have again planned some planting campaigns and want to put new trees into the ground together with you. Our forestry offices have picked out areas where they would like to plant together with you.
Thank you for your interest in our planting activities!
Here you can register for the planting campaign.
Companies can also support HessenForst by sponsoring the reforestation. We are pleased about a mail to the mailbox Sponsorin[email protected] and contact you for an individual consultation.
For further questions about donations for the climate-stable forest, please have a look at our FAQ.