Esslinger Wald needs protection: City councilors active on the forest throughout the forest!

Esslinger Wald needs protection: City councilors active on the forest throughout the forest!

Berkheim, Deutschland - On July 17, 2025, numerous city councilors gathered in Esslingen for the traditional forestry throughout the forest to find out about the preservation of the local forest. The urban forest in Berkheim comprises an area of 165 hectares and plays an important role in local recreation, serves as a retreat for animals and plants and contributes to the local economy, such as Esslingen.de reported.

City forester Ingo Hanak explained that the softwood content in the forest is currently only 20 % and the hardwood content is 80 %, with which it has experienced a doubling in the last half century. In order to maintain the softwood content, especially the spruces, the city takes measures. These are of great importance because the spruce are economically valuable. But the forest economy is currently facing great challenges: dry periods and climate change promote the infestation of pests such as bark beetles that affect the conifers.

sustainability and ecology in forest operation

like environmental office.de notes, forests are an indispensable ecosystem that fulfills numerous functions for both humans and nature. However, they are threatened by environmental pollution, climate change and human use. In Germany, around 11.4 million hectares, around a third of the area, are forested, and sustainable forest management is essential to maintain biological diversity.

In the Esslingen Wald, pesticides have been dispensed with for 35 years, which underlines the ecological standards of regional forest management. The deputy forest area manager Jens Denzinger presented impressive hornbeams that are already 80 years old and provide high -quality seeds for the reforestation of other forests. Ingo Hanak also presented the white fires planted four years ago, which act as a retrospective for the spruces and are better prepared for dryness and storms.

The shortage of skilled workers in forestry company

A total of twelve employees work in the forestry company, including four trainees. Lars Wolf, the forestry trainer, pointed out the intensive competition for forest specialists; The number of applications per training position is very high. In view of the challenges in forest management, it is crucial to have well-trained specialists in this area.

Another point on the agenda was the announced feasibility study for redesigning the Berkheimer Forest Business Court. Mayor Hans-Georg Sigel announced that it will be tackled over the next two years.

In view of the current and future challenges, it is all the more important that everyone involved rely on sustainable and respectful use of the forests. The government has formulated strategic goals for natural forest management in order to maintain the forests in their diversity and productivity.

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OrtBerkheim, Deutschland
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