The area is located in the Südharz district (Saxony-Anhalt) between the Sangerhausen districts of Grillenberg and Wippra, north of the Kohlenstraße towards “Ludwigstrauch”. Division 152 c has a total area of 1.1 ha and is located at an altitude of 400 m.

The forest conversion area was stocked with a 50-year-old pure spruce stand. This stand was largely spared from past storms. However, the droughts up to 2020 and the progressive bark beetle infestation have left no chance for the spruce. In March 2021, the area therefore had to be completely cleared.

We want to reforest the resulting gap in autumn 2021 with the site-appropriate tree species oak, which will be supplemented in the rows with bird cherry. In the southern area, reforestation with European larch is planned. Through natural regeneration, other tree species will establish themselves on the site, resulting in a stable, relatively climate-resilient mixed deciduous forest with sessile oak as the main tree species. This future mixture of tree species and forest structures must then be developed through targeted forestry management interventions. Protection against browsing game is achieved with the help of an ecological browsing protection agent, which is applied to the deciduous trees.

Without afforestation or later management measures, the existing natural spruce regeneration would reassert itself in large proportions at this site. This seed germinates in large numbers and the small spruces are very resistant and displacing. In addition, birch succession would occur at best. This would also be forest again, but with a very uncertain perspective and with foreseeable low biomass production (= CO2 binding). With this planned forest conversion on a former pure spruce stand, we hope to lay the foundation for a permanently stable forest stand for future generations.

The Südharz II project is part of our cooperation with Landesforstbetrieb Sachsen-Anhalt. With this project we support sustainable forest conversion in the Harz Mountains. The Südharz forest district is certified according to PEFC and FSC rules.

Project: Annarode VI

The project is located in the southern Harz region near the village of Annarode. Two neighboring areas (sections 6b and 10b) with a total size of 2.5 ha are involved.

Until spring 2020, the areas were stocked with medium-aged, healthy spruce. Due to the persistent drought and bark beetle infestation, the spruces died in the course of 2020. Subsequent vegetation has not yet developed. The two areas are stocked with dead spruce.

In order to prevent the areas from becoming overgrown due to the increased incidence of light, they are to be reforested as soon as possible. In autumn 2021, a total of 4,850 silver firs, 20 European aspen and 20 wild service trees are to be planted under the dead spruces.

The silver firs will be protected against browsing by game with an ecological browsing protection agent. The 20 wild service trees and 20 European aspen will be provided with browsing protection grids, which has a twofold effect: firstly, the plants are protected against browsing game and secondly, the small number of plants on the area can be better observed as they grow.

The Annarode VI project is part of our cooperation with Landesforstbetrieb Sachsen-Anhalt. With this project we support sustainable forest conversion in the southern Harz region. The Annarode forest district is certified according to PEFC and FSC rules.