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German Forestry

Dive into the rich history of German forestry, current trends, technological advancements, and future prospects. Explore the comparisons between German and U.S. forestry practices, including government assistance and economic challenges.

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German Forestry

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  1. German Forestry Morgan Troendle Michael Haden

  2. Objectives • History of German Forestry • Current Trends • Technology • Future Outlook • Comparisons to U.S.

  3. History • German forests were source of power for nobles • Concerns of shortages were developed so nobles had reason to develop communes • Having communally owned forests gave the nobles right to the money • Shortage worries were the reasons for development of a management system

  4. History cont. • Began around 1800 • Replaced poor production areas with fast growing species – Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine • Staggered clear cuts to keep the wood supply continuous and reliable • Made Germany world renowned for its forestry habits

  5. Problems with scientific forestry • Instead of 1/3 coniferous and 2/3 deciduous it was switched • Acid soils • Weak stands • Poor lumber sent to market which lowered prices

  6. Nazi tree management • Taken control by Hermann Goring • No cutting of conifer stands younger than 50 years • No clear-cutting more than a certain fraction of the stand • Must select lesser trees to cut to allow stronger specimens to reseed • Forest owners were asked to introduce more broadleaf species

  7. Nazis cont. • Did not satisfy needs for war effort • Goring fired and clear cutting rules relaxed • Sustainable practices did not return until 1990s

  8. Forest facts • Cover 31% of Germany • 57.5% Coniferous – 42.5% Deciduous

  9. Wood Use

  10. Total roundwood production - (1000 m³)

  11. Forest Ownership

  12. Forest Ownership Cont. • 198,000 own <10 ha • 48,000 own 10 – 50 ha • 7,400 own 50 – 200 ha • 3,300 own 200 – 1000 ha • 1,400 own >1,000 ha

  13. Government Assistance • 80% of costs for site preparation • 85% of costs for afforestation • Forestry and replantings • Pure broadleaves • Less than 20% conifer trees (50% for all coniferous species) • 60% of costs for tending operations in young stands

  14. Government Cont. • There are also rewards for afforestation of 20 years: • 175 to 300 euro/ha for self-used arable land • 300 euro/ha for self used pasture • 175 euro for not self-used agriculture land

  15. Economics of Forestry • German forestry lacks profitability • Private companies • Often solutions to problems aren’t solved correctly

  16. Technology • German company first to use RFID • Tiny nail inserted in each log • Helps decrease inefficiencies between the cuting, harvesting, and processing of timber • Less paper trail and more of an electronic database

  17. Black Forest • Mass logged in early stages of timber industry • Acid rain also killed many trees • Many bare areas still remain • A constant struggle to encourage re-growth of the forest to previous levels

  18. German U.S. Comparison • German companies harvest 50 million cubic meters annually • The United States harvests 480 million cubic meters each year. • The U.S. companies are able to operate at profitable levels • The German industry is highly subsidized by their government

  19. Total roundwood production - (1000 m³)

  20. Questions?

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