Seed Shortage Hinders Reforestation Efforts in Thuringian Forest

Located in Thuringia, the city of Erfurt has been the backdrop for the filming of several DEFA classics such as Cold Heart, The Golden Goose, and Hansel & Gretel. However, the Thuringian Forest, widely known as the fairytale forest of the Germans, is now facing a severe threat.

Last year, the Thuringian Forest saw the worst bark beetle infestation in its history. The Free State is now taking measures to protect and restore the forest, allocating a substantial three-digit million amounts to convert the coniferous forest areas into climate-resistant mixed forests. This investment highlights the seriousness of the situation and the importance of the forest’s survival.

While the funds for the project are in place, a new challenge has emerged: a shortage of the necessary seeds for reforestation. This issue was brought to light by the “Thüringer Allgemeine”, a leading local news outlet.

The damage caused by the bark beetles is increasingly spreading towards the south of the region. The Thüringer Allgemeine quoted the head of the Leinefelde Forestry Office, who emphasized the scale of the problem. According to him, approximately 200 million plants are required for the reforestation efforts in Thuringia alone. This is because the number of plants required per hectare varies between 2,000 and 8,000 depending on the tree species.

The bark beetle infestation in 2023 was responsible for damaging six million cubic meters of wood. This is significantly higher than the damage in previous years, which ranged from 2.3 to 3.9 million cubic meters. The drastic increase demonstrates the escalating threat to the Thuringian Forest.

Currently, only a mere 18 percent of the trees in Thuringia are considered healthy. This statistic underscores the urgency of the situation and the pressing need for effective reforestation efforts.