The German Forest is a habitat for numerous animal and plant species, economic and recreation room for people and last but not least an important climate factor.
1. The forest in Germany is more human. It is used sustainably, but also has many monocultures. This is mainly due to the fact that after the world wars, rapidly growing conifers such as spruces for the construction and timber industry were often reforested. A rethink towards mixed forests only took place through the forest death debate in the 1980s.
2. Today 77 tree species grow in German forests. Spruce, pine, beech and oak take almost three quarters of the forest area. With an area share of almost 5 percent, tree species introduced still play a subordinate role. Douglasia (2 percent) are most widespread.
3rd in 2011 the UNESCO included five beech forest areas in Germany in the list of world heritage. They are located in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Thuringia and Hesse. Buchen forests are Europe's original wilderness. 6,500 years ago they covered 40 percent of the European continent.
