Forest Day: Primeval Forest in Germany, is that possible?

On the occasion of today’s International Forest Day, which was established back in the 1970s, we would like to take a closer look at the German primeval forest.

Primeval forest in Germany, is there such a thing?

When people talk about primeval forests, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the tropical rainforest with its exotic diversity of flora and fauna – but not necessarily the native forests. The first assumption is also almost correct, because if you look at the definition from the Duden, a primeval forest is an untouched patch of earth or forest that combines many different animal and plant species. In Germany, however, most forests have been created and maintained by humans. So the first hunch was right: there is no such thing as a real German primeval forest. However, old forests are essential for many animal and plant species. We can therefore speak of “German primeval forests” in the sense that they have a centuries-old stock of trees and provide a home for animals and plants.

Why old-growth forests are so important?

In most German forests, conifers predominate, which means that a monoculture prevails there. This makes these forests more vulnerable to climate damage, such as dry summers, and pests, such as the bark beetle. Storms and rising temperatures are additional burdens for the fragile forest ecosystem. Before large-scale clearing by humans, the forest consisted mainly of beech trees. Now spruce and pine predominate in native forests. But why is it important to protect the existing forests and not simply reforest them? For one thing, old-growth trees are more resistant to external influences such as storms or fire. For another, they are home to species that only really feel at home when the trees are 200 years old or more, such as the middle spotted woodpecker in the native beech forests.

What can we do to protect the German primeval forest?