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How forests can survive climate change: municipal forests in the Kassel region are to set an example
In addition to the University of Kassel, the Hesse State Forestry Office and the Northwest German Forest Research Institute are involved. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and will run until summer 2017. The results should be practically implementable and transferable to other regions. Various stakeholders are involved in the process right from the start.
There is broad consensus among experts that multi-layered and mixed permanent forest structures, a greater diversity of tree species and structural elements, and the incorporation of climate-robust species are important for the development of climate-adapted forest stands. However, climate change-induced changes in the forest ecosystem provoke new and intensify existing social conflicts, according to Dr. Christian Henschke, coordinator of the KLIMWALD project. "These include the different interests of forest owners, nature conservation, hunters, hikers and others, up to the general societal interest in preserving the identity-forming 'native' landscape." The overriding goal of the project is therefore to develop viable solutions in a consensus-oriented manner with the stakeholders involved and to establish them permanently. To this end, science, forestry practice and administration, municipal forest owners, forestry associations and other stakeholders are working together in a way that has not been tried before.
One of the defining conceptual features of the project is emphasized by Uwe Zindel, head of the Wolfhagen forestry office: "In the KLIMWALD project, obstacles are analyzed from the end - i.e. from the concrete risk assessment on site and the implementation of possible measures based on this - against the background of the concern to promote climate adaptation in municipal forests. Based on this, the partners from science and practice develop suitable approaches to solutions, taking into account ecological, social and economic conditions. In order to adapt these in the best possible way to the demands on site and thus to ensure impact and acceptance, particular attention is paid to the design of the participatory project process.
As another central feature, Prof. Dr. Ulf Hahne, head of the Department of Economics of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Kassel, emphasizes the approach of transferring the scientifically based findings into decisions and implementing and anchoring them in silvicultural and wildlife ecology-oriented action. The processing of the central results and findings from the integrated work process thus enables learning effects and imitation impulses for other regions.
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Press conference in the context of the KLIMWALD kick-off event
6 February 2015 in the house of the guest Ippinghausen, Leckringhäuser road 6a,
34466 Wolfhagen Ippinghausen from 18-20 o'clock.
We would be happy to arrange an exclusive interview on the topics already mentioned or other topics of the project within the framework of the kick-off event of the KLIMWALD project. Please register for this under 0151 1464 1634 or under k.wagner[at]uni-kassel[dot]de.
The following project partners are available for a press interview:
Prof. Dr. Ulf Hahne, University of Kassel, CliMA, FG Economics of Urban and Regional Planning
Dr. Jochen Godt, University of Kassel, CliMA, FG Landscape and Vegetation Ecology
Uwe Zindel, Hessen-Forst, Head of the Wolfhagen Forestry Office
Prof. Dr. Johannes Eichhorn, Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Head of the Environmental Control Department
Mayors of the municipalities of Calden, Naumburg, Wolfhagen and Zierenberg.
Contact:
Kathrin Wagner
KLIMWALD Project
University of Kassel
Phone: 0561 / 804-2784
E-mail: k.wagner[at]uni-kassel[dot]de