Climate forest in Fürstenfeldbruck: Organic farmer plants the future!

Climate forest in Fürstenfeldbruck: Organic farmer plants the future!

Climate change doesn't stop, and local forests are also severely affected. In Fürstenfeldbruck, Johannes Kellerer, better known as “Joe”, sets a sign of hope. The organic farmer, who also appeared as a candidate for the satirical party “The Party” in the last mayoral election, is planning to create a climate forest on a 4,000 square meter site in Hasenheide. The South German reports that Kellerer wanted to draw attention to issues such as sustainability and environmental protection through his candidacy and attracted attention with 644 votes, promising a tree for each of these votes. So far he has already been able to plant around 600 climate trees.

The area, which was previously covered by spruce trees, has suffered greatly from drought and bark beetle infestation. Kellerer decided to create a sustainable mixed forest. The aim is to plant a selection of tree species that are well adapted to the coming climate changes. He is supported by the forester Anita Ottmann, who enthusiastically supports his idea. The selection of tree species is wide-ranging and ranges from domestic varieties such as sour cherries and serviceberries to more innovative international species such as giant sequoia, Atlas and Lebanon cedars. Thanks to their deep roots, these could have better access to groundwater and thus develop greater resilience in times of climate change.

The right tree species for the climate forest

With an average temperature increase of 1.6 degrees over the last 40 years, forests are facing serious challenges. A further increase is expected in Bavaria, especially if the response to climate-damaging gases is not responded to quickly enough. Forest knowledge has provided interesting information in this context: For tree species with moderate temperature tolerance, a temperature increase of 2 degrees would still be acceptable, while for larger increases, tree species with high tolerance should come into focus. These include species such as black pine, Scots pine and sessile oak.

This selection is crucial not only for the sustainability of the new forests, but also for their resilience to extreme weather conditions such as drought and heatwaves. The water balance plays a key role, and the conversion of monocultures into species-rich mixed forests, as Kellerer is planning, is seen by experts as pioneering. In addition, the origin of the tree species is crucial for their ability to adapt to the respective environment. The Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that mixed forests are less susceptible to pests and fungi, which means Kellerer is on the right track in his planning.

Kellerer's commitment is well received in the local community. He plans to raise awareness of environmental protection and sustainability in future generations through education and access to his forest project. Over the next few years, he would like to make his project accessible to the public, which will provide further incentive for anyone interested to address the challenges and solutions of climate change.

In summary, Kellerer not only wants to make an important contribution to the environment with his climate forest, but also wants to act as a role model. As the challenges of climate change become more tangible, his approach to establishing mixed forests is a step in the right direction to secure the forests of the future.