Typical and exceptional fauna and flora species in forests
In the past the original forest vegetation – hardwood – accounted for nearly 80 % of the total forest area. The most typical tree species was the beech.
In general, today forest area in Germany can be divided into: 1. the rich pine in north Germany 2. the rich hardwood in the low mountain range of Germany 3. the rich spruce in south Germany 4. the coast area in Germany. |
Today 71 tree species can be found in Germany. The main tree species are spruce (Picea abies-28%), pine (Pinus Sylvestris-24%), beech (Fagus sylvatica-15%) and oak (Quercus ssp.-10%).
For the past 30 years, forestry in Germany follows the “close to nature forest management”. As a result German forest has changed and gradually rich softwood sites have been transformed into mixed hardwood sites. Today hardwood and mixed forests amount to 39 %.
But what is the future of the German forest? Global Warming, especially the rise in the average annual temperature, will influence the forest ecosystems too. Within the next 100 years, more hardwood than softwood trees will grow. Of great importance are the non-native tree species, for example Douglas fir, Japan larch, American red oak, and Robinia. Non-native species account for 4 % of the total forest area in Germany.
A special tradition is the Tree of the Year. Every year one tree species is chosen. For the past 20 years the foundation “BAUM DES JAHRES – Dr. Silvius Wodarz Stiftung” chooses and promotes one special tree species every year. The goal is to inform the public about the chosen tree. For the year 2011 the chosen tree was service tree (Sorbus torminalis).
But what is the future of the German forest? Global Warming, especially the rise in the average annual temperature, will influence the forest ecosystems too. Within the next 100 years, more hardwood than softwood trees will grow. Of great importance are the non-native tree species, for example Douglas fir, Japan larch, American red oak, and Robinia. Non-native species account for 4 % of the total forest area in Germany.
A special tradition is the Tree of the Year. Every year one tree species is chosen. For the past 20 years the foundation “BAUM DES JAHRES – Dr. Silvius Wodarz Stiftung” chooses and promotes one special tree species every year. The goal is to inform the public about the chosen tree. For the year 2011 the chosen tree was service tree (Sorbus torminalis).
Mammals in the German hardwood forest are martens, fallow deer, red deer, boars, lynxes, foxes, beavers and otters. In 1998 wolves were detected in the Lausitz. Until then there had been detected: only 5 packs of wolves (about 25-50 wolves in total) and one pair of wolves in the Lausitz (Saxony), and one pack of wolf and one pair of wolves in the Lausitz (Brandenburg).
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