LIFE4Forests’ German partner, Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesforsten, has practiced close-to-nature forest management since the 1980s, and they shared their experiences during a LIFE project workshop. Topics included managing stable tree species, regulating light and shade through thinning, cultivation and planting techniques, wildlife management, and the ability to stay ahead of challenges.
Surprises around every corner
“I had low expectations for forest quality when I heard the excursions would visit stands comparable to the sandy soils of central and western Jutland and climatically similar to the coastal dune plantations along the North Sea. But I was in for a surprise. I felt like I was standing in Rold Forest (forest in eastern Jutland on richer soil) when I saw several of the stands. Forty-meter-tall spruce trees are almost a miracle in a Danish context,” says Ole Hyttel, LIFE4Forests project manager.
You can sense the enthusiasm when Ole Hyttel describes his experience in Schleswig’s largest forest: Langenberg.
Photo: Ole Hyttel
A boost of insight into close-to-nature forest management
All LIFE4Forest partners joined Jörn-Hinrich Frank and Jens-Birger Bosse for a tour of the forest which has been managed under close-to-nature principles for more than 40 years. The visit clearly strengthened perceptions for the 25 participants of what is achievable with this approach.
How does Landesforsten create a close-to-Nature Forest System?
Voranbau – alway one step ahead
The German partner works according to a principle called “Voranbau”, which translates to “pre-cultivation.” This means they strive to stay ahead of potential disasters such as windthrow and drought, reducing the risk of losing continuous forest cover and maintaining a stable forest climate.
In older stands, foresters systematically initiate measures to ensure natural regeneration—typically through self-seeding and in rare cases by planting stable species.
Another key factor: all staff (foresters and forest workers) understand the close-to-nature principles, especially the core idea of favoring stable tree species in groups. Deer populations are also closely monitored, and kept lower with culling over a longer period than in Denmark.
Here is an example of a mixed stand that was hit by windthrow in 2013, but where the forest microclimate remained intact thanks to natural regeneration. The old stand is 75 years old, and seven tree species are present in the regeneration.
Photo: Ole Hyttel.
Key practices
Some of the perspectives on forest management gained from the Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesforsten was:
- Focus on producing timber of the highest quality
- Trees of the same species should preferably be managed in small groups
- Slash and tops from thinning are left in the forest
- First thinning: carried out using brush cutters
- Second thinning: produces firewood
- 15–20% of species in a stand are broadleaves
- Strong preference for container-grown seedlings
- Limited soil preparation is enough
- Target: maximum one roe deer per 100 hectares of forest
Focus on production of high-quality timber
At Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesforsten, it has long been recognized that quality timber can be produced in ways other than the traditional monoculture system. The mixture of tree species makes forest management more flexible: if one tree or species performs poorly, others can take over.
In the forest district visited by LIFE4Forest, it is a goal that approximately 15–20% of the species are broadleaves—typically beech—to provide an ecologically stabilizing element. This also creates opportunities to produce valuable hardwood timber, although this is most pronounced on the best soils in the southeastern part of the district.
Excursion host (left) Jörn-Hinrich Frank explains the use of light and shade to create space for different tree species. In the open areas, Scots pine grows, while in the darker forest, silver fir thrives. P.C. Gade translates from German to Danish.
Photo: Ole Hyttel
Grouping to ensure health and quality
The Germans use species grouping as an important prerequisite for producing high-quality timber. By clustering trees of the same species, natural pruning and straightness is better achieved, and the risk of different species interfering negatively with each other is reduced.
To avoid snow damage, Douglas fir, for example, must be planted at double the spacing (2 x 2 meters) compared to beech. However, the principle of grouping species is not rigid; other species are tolerated within the groups. Still, managers aim for a clear dominance of the desired species.
Groups are established according to the 20/40/60 principle, meaning group sizes of 20×20 m, 40×40 m, or 60×60 m, depending on forest development, and the availability of light relative to each species’ requirements.
Here is an example of an area hit by windthrow in 1999 where sufficient forest microclimate was not maintained due to a lack of timely regeneration. In this case, it was necessary to plant different tree species afterwards, while keeping the few remaining overstory trees as long as possible. This stand was shown as an example of mistakes we need to learn from.
Photo: Ole Hyttel
Planting to optimize root development
In the close-to-nature forest management in Langenberg, most regeneration occurs through natural regeneration. About 20 - 25% of stands still require assistance in converting toward close-to-nature management by planting groups of stable conifers and a smaller proportion of broadleaves. The German partner has extensive experience with planting container-grown seedlings and demonstrated the practical techniques.
No soil preparation on site
There is a strict requirement that soil preparation must not occur directly on the site. Therefore, techniques have been developed where machines operate from tracks and reach into the stand from there, only making limited soil preparation between the tracks..
Planting with container grown seedlings
A common method uses an excavator to pull furrows down to the mineral soil from the tracks. As shown in the photo below, a small electric drill is used to make holes in the furrow. The container seedling is placed in the hole, and the root plug is covered with soil without tamping around it. This ensures optimal root development both in depth and width. Container plants also have the advantage that they can be planted most of the year, with only high summer limiting activity.
The forest district places great emphasis on optimizing root development. They have had poor experiences with bare-root seedlings planted with spades, which can cause root deformation with following poor growth. Bare-root planting still occurs in winter, but with strict attention to avoiding root deformation
A standard drilling machine and a specially designed drill are the tools used for planting. Simon Russell demonstrates the planting drill for container seedlings.
Photo: Ole Hyttel
No Wood Chip Production – the tops are left in the Forest
In a Danish forest, the first thinning often ends up as wood chips. In the German state forest administration, chip production is not relevant. Instead, firewood collection is systematized to create income in an otherwise costly first thinning. Trees less than 7 cm in diameter must be left on the forest floor.
Before firewood collectors are allowed in, there may be a need for stem number reduction to create space for stable, future-proof species—primarily silver fir, but also Douglas fir, grand fir, larch, Scots pine, beech, and oak. This thinning is typically and most cost-effectively done with brush cutters and experienced forest workers.
The second thinning usually involves marking the trees to be removed and letting firewood collectors fell them. This also creates a significant management task of selling firewood permits and servicing collectors—much more than we are used to in Denmark.
Firewood collection starts, when it is possible. The trees and the areas are marked before collectors start. This practice means, that it is a significantly larger management task selling collection permits and servicing collectors, than we are used to in Denmark.
Wildlife management is wilder
A low ungulate population is considered crucial for successful close-to-nature forestry. The Germans have taken action by systematizing and prioritizing hunting so the forest has a chance to develop naturally with minimal browsing and stripping damage on trees intended to become the permanent stand.
Discount for Meeting Quotas
The district’s goal is a maximum of one roe deer per 100 hectares. Anything above that is considered a barrier to close-to-nature forestry in Germany. In Denmark, the normal population is 5–10 roe deer per 100 hectares.
Stand Hunting
Most animals in the forest district are culled through stand hunting from towers. It is a demanding discipline to wait for the “right” animals. The rule of thumb is about 15 outings per animal culled, so fulfilling the quota requires effort. One hunter, however, managed to cull 163 deer on about 2,000 hectares last season.
Extended Hunting Seasons
Hunting seasons are longer in Germany than in Denmark, with early autumn and spring hunts. The focus is on reducing the “production apparatus,” meaning shooting fawns, does, calves, hinds, and young stags—and the seasons are designed for that.
It All Began in 1878
He probably didn’t know it was close-to-nature forest management, but when Provinzialforstdirektor Carl Emeis in 1878 was given the task of establishing forests in the forest-poor northwestern corner of Schleswig-Holstein, he became a sort of pioneer of the approach. He created almost ideal conditions for a forest system with stable and healthy species - very close to what we today call close-to-nature forestry.
The soil is nutrient-poor, similar to heath and dune plantation sites in Denmark, which were considered difficult for forestry at the time. Nevertheless, Emeis planted a rich mix of species—beech, oak, Scots pine, grand fir, silver fir, Douglas fir. This proved to be a wise strategy. Remnants of these now 145-year-old trees still exist, and the stands can now provide natural regeneration across most of the area.
Emeis graduated as a forester from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College in Copenhagen in 1856, and his footprint is also seen in Southern Jutland, where he established forward-thinking mixed cultures with broadleaves and silver fir in places like Kelstrup Plantation near Bov and Brøns Forest.
German State Forests Today Follow Close-to-Nature Principles
Today, Germany’s state forests prioritize close-to-nature management. All publicly owned forests in every German federal state have gradually converted to close-to-nature forestry since the 1990s.