The state of the forest report : A dramatic year for the forest in Brandenburg

Brandenburg's forests, despite the heat, drought and fires in the past few months, yet good overall. 2018 had been, among other things, with 489 forest fires on approximately 1.655 acres of affected land "a dramatic year", said forestry Minister Jörg Vogelsänger (SPD) at the launch of the new state of the forest report on Wednesday in Potsdam. The long-term effects of the hot and dry year were, however, visible only expected to in the coming years.

Around eleven percent of the forest areas have, according to the report, significant damage, in the past year, there were nine percent. 45 percent of the land is therefore free from damage, in 2017, it was 46 percent. Compared to the beginning of the 90s, the Situation has improved accordingly. In 1991, only 29 percent of the forest were areas in Brandenburg, as free from damage, 33 percent of the forest areas showed significant damage.

"The forest is a great treasure we have in the state of Brandenburg"

with Large differences according to the report, however, in the case of the individual tree species. While the condition of the Book has improved and instead of six, only three percent of the deciduous trees have major damage, the situation has deteriorated in the native oaks. Only 16 percent of the märkische Eichen, therefore, apply as free from damage, in 2017, there were still 28 percent. Significant damage were recorded at 37 per cent, of the oaks, in 2017, it was 22 percent. In the case of the pine, there were almost no changes. Six percent of the coniferous trees have, according to the report, significant damage, 48 percent have no damage.

"oak is just a highly sensitive person," emphasized Ralf Kätzel from the forestry competence centre in Eberswalde. Because oak trees evaporate during times of drought, plenty of water, are at risk due to prolonged droughts more than other trees.

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About 72 percent of the trees are pine forests in Brandenburg, according to the report, twelve percent are oak trees and three percent of the Book. The remainder are various Deciduous and coniferous tree species. The forest areas in the country had risen from 1995 to 2015, the order of 53,000 hectares to more than 1.1 million hectares, it said.

bird singer called for carefully with the Brandenburg forests. "The forest is a great treasure we have in the state of Brandenburg," the Minister said. Users and residents should take responsibility, and to regulations such as driving and barring orders. The reforestation after forest fires cost between 5,000 and 8,000 euros per hectare.

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