Forest dieback in the Harz – participation matters
In the Harz, huge spruce forests have died back due to drought, storms and bark beetles. Young people see these areas and feel powerless. With „Water Grows in the Forest” we want to give them something to hold in their hands: a spade.
Around 40 pupils from a school in the Harz are to plant 1,000 deciduous trees together with their teachers in autumn 2027. They will experience: my actions make a difference. This sense of self-efficacy strengthens confidence, and anyone who plants a tree themselves feels connected to the forest. On a forest education tour, they will also learn what the forest does for us: it filters and stores water, cools the climate and provides habitat. Because only those who know the forest and understand its value will protect it in the long term, because they want to – not because they have to.
Deciduous forests are considered climate-resilient and, unlike coniferous forests, can generate significantly more groundwater, because coniferous trees retain precipitation in the canopy, where a large proportion evaporates. Studies and modelling show that a deciduous forest can improve groundwater recharge by 500,000 to 1,200,000 litres per year and hectare compared with pure conifer stands.
Your donation makes it possible for the pupils to plant, with seedlings, soil preparation, protection from wildlife, the planting action including environmental education, bus transport and follow-up monitoring of the area. Our goal on Giving Tuesday: €8,000, so that the pupils can plant a climate-resilient deciduous forest that supports groundwater recharge.
