climate-resilient mixed deciduous forests

Climate adapt­a­tion in the forest

Climate change is advan­cing and with it extreme weather events and droughts are incre­asing. Bad for our forests: Since 2017, 900,000 hectares of forest have died – predo­mi­nantly pure conifer stands – and only one in five trees is now considered healthy. Now, conver­ting monocul­tural conifer forests through broad­leaf tree planting has many ecolo­gical benefits. Deciduous forests improve the forest’s ability to store rainwater, which also makes it more resilient to droughts.

What one hectare of mixed deciduous forest achieves

If a former conife­rous forest is converted into a climate-resilient deciduous forest through the planting of broad­leaf trees, ground­water recharge can improve by 500,000 up to 1,200,000 litres per year and hectare accor­ding to existing studies and climate model­ling.

Climate-resilient and fit for the future

Native deciduous trees such as beech, sessile oak or hornbeam are adapted to regional soil and climate condi­tions. They promote the build-up of humus, store rainfall, cope better with drought and storms, and thus support the develo­p­ment of future-proof, resilient forests. Such forests remain stable even as carbon sinks, provide habitat for count­less animal and plant species, produce timber, and promote our most valuable asset: clean drinking water.

Plant the future

With your support, you help actively drive the trans­for­ma­tion to near-natural woodland. Every contri­bu­tion supports new deciduous tree plantings that make our native forests fit for the future. This is how you support our forest and help preserve our natural founda­tions of life.