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Overview

Blick von oben auf eine Waldfläche mit vielen abgestorbenen Bäumen
© Heike Liesebach

In the Thünen topic “Forests”, we regularly record the condition of Germany's forests using representative inventories. This is done in close cooperation with the federal states. We examine various dimensions, from soil condition and tree genetics to forest damage.

On the basis of these data, we analyze how influencing factors - above all climate change, nutrient inflow and forest management - affect forest condition. Within the framework of ICP Forests, we also carry out such analyses in a European network.

Our international activities have three main directions: Forest genetic studies; development of tropical forest regions; deforestation and restoration.

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Litterfall traps and deposition samplers are distributed regularly across the intensive forest monitoring plots
Forest Monitoring - more than just data

In order to gain a better understanding of the impact of climate change, deposition, and other factors effecting forests in Germany and Europe we maintain standardized forest monitoring programmes.

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Bick am Baumstamm hoch, es sind einige Messinstrumente am Stamm befestigt
Trees twitter to bring forests online

The forest is online: Researchers from the European collaborative network "STReESS" enable trees to report in real time how climate change is affecting them.

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Forest damage due to drought and heat

Forests in Germany are still suffering from the hot and dry weather in 2018 to 2020 and. The situation only eased slightly in 2023 with precipitation above the long-term average. Especially the winter of 2023/24 set a new record. Our FAQ provides ...

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Ein toter Baumstamm liegt am Boden, daneben einige junge Nadelbäume
Forests in climate change

Which tree species and provenances are particularly suitable for adapting forests to climate change? In view of the drought damage of recent years, this question is of high practical relevance.

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Ein beginnender Waldbrand
Fire in the forest! What to do?

Again high risk of forest fires. There is a lot of dry wood in the forests and the trees are severely affected by the drought of the past years. What you personally can do when discovering a fire.

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Blick in den Urwald Sababurg, Naturpark Reinhardswald, mit alten Buchen und Totholz.
Logging ban for old, near-natural beech forests

The proposed logging ban for old, near-natural beech forests in public ownership is intended to contribute to climate and biodiversity protection. What potential do these forests have? An assessment.

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Wald aus Rotbuchen
The European beech, most common deciduous tree in Germany

The European beech is a typical tree of Central Europe. The highly competitive tree species had long been considered a hopeful candidate for climate-stable mixed forests, but is now also increasingly suffering from climate-induced drought. As an ...

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Junge Buchenblätter
Looking at the plate: Nutritional status of beech on Level II plots

As a child you were often told that you have to eat up for good weather. That's nonsense, of course - and yet nutritional status and weather patterns can be directly related, for example in the case of the beech. But what are the food requirements of ...

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Blick in einen trockenen Buchenwald mit braunen Blättern.
Leaving the stress behind: Can beech adapt to climate change?

Beech is suffering from the increasing drought in Germany. Researchers at the Thünen-Institute are studying how it copes with drought stress and how its adaptation to climate change can be supported.

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Stir it up: The genetic diversity of beech

Genetic diversity is a prerequisite for adaptation to climate change. Especially in managed forests, it is therefore indispensable to know how it can be conserved and promoted.

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Zwei Wissenschaftlerinnen im Gewebekultur-Labor
Bottle babies: How tissue culture helps in beech research

Tissue culture can be used to preserve and propagate trees for forestry research. At the Thünen-Institute, scientists are trying to establish the important European beech in tissue culture for future research.

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Forests in (climate) change: In worse condition despite a wet winter

Forests in Germany, especially the main tree species spruce, beech, pine and oak are getting worse. Monitoring data from the Forest Condition Survey show that there have also been bad times for forests in recent decades due to storm events, acid rain ...

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The German National Forest Inventory

It's that time again: Currently, measuring teams of the Federal Forest Inventory are again measuring trees in the forest and collecting many other characteristics.

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Eine Europakarte mit den farbig markierten Ländern der Waldinventur
National Forest Inventory: Networked in Europe

The European Network of National Forest Inventories (ENFIN) exists since 2003.

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Carbon Inventory 2017 – an interim review

Between the 2012 and 2022 National Forest Inventories, the 2017 Carbon Inventory recorded the condition of the German forest with a limited range of characteristics. It provides data on the carbon stored in the forest and shows how forests have ...

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Results of the 2022 National Forest Inventory

There are more deciduous trees and structurally rich forests in Germany than ten years ago. The timber stock is at a record level. In all ownership types, less wood has been used than has grown back. This and much more was shown by the third National ...

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Interesting facts about the fourth National Forest Inventory

How are forests actually inventoried? What is the data used for? Is the same data collected everywhere in Europe? Can I find information on my private forest? The most frequently asked questions and answers about the National Forest Inventory.

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