page_title: Forest in Germany
section_title: Forest modification and tree species change
hierarchical_section_title: Forest in Germany / Forest modification and tree species change
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Douglasiengruppe im Forstlichen Versuchsgarten Grafrath (Lkr. Fürstenfeldbruck)
context_page_description: The forest in Germany covers 11.4 million hectares, 32 percent of the total area of the country. In the German forests grow about 90 billion young and old trees with a total wood stock of 3.7 billion cubic meters.
  The definition of the Federal Forest Act for forest is: "any area planted with forest plants. Forest also includes clear-cut or shaded ground areas, forest roads, forest clearance and securing strips, forest meadows and clearings, forest meadows, grass clearing areas, wood storage areas and other areas associated with and serving the forest."
context_section_description: By nature, the German forest would be strongly influenced by deciduous trees, in particular red beech (Fagus sylvatica). Today's tree species composition with high proportions of coniferous trees reflects the forest use of the past centuries. From the Middle Ages to the early 19th century, many forests in Germany were over-used or beaten to pieces. In order to avert an imminent wood problem, these devastated forests and areas were reforested in the context of sustainable forestry on the better soils with good water supply often with common spruce (Picea abies) and on the nutrient-poorer and drier locations with pine (Pinus sylvestris).
  These two robust tree species are better able to cope with the difficult ecological conditions on clear-cutting land than frost-sensitive tree species such as European beech and white fir (Abies alba) and also provide high timber yields. Even during and after the two world wars caused by the destruction of the war, the Reparationshiebe and the wood requirements for the reconstruction large Kahlflächen on which often pure populations of spruce and pine were established. The forest owners and foresters of the time provided a great cultural achievement with the reconstruction of the forests - given the large areas and limited resources available.
caption: Wind throw in a spruce tree
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