Douglas fir was chosen for the reforestation because it is a very climate-stable tree species in suitable locations. It is also an important component in the tree species mix of the Gerlingen municipal forest and the district, as Douglas fir is one of the few coniferous tree species that will still be suitable for the district by 2100 due to climate change. The importance of Douglas fir lies in the provision of high-quality timber, which can often be used for construction purposes (house building, etc.). In this sector, which is important for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide in wood products, it can thus partially replace the climate-related loss of the tree species spruce and fir.
"In order to ensure that Douglas firs are treated in the best possible way to ensure climate stability, our forestry department has developed a specific concept for climate-appropriate silvicultural management of Douglas firs that takes into account the forecast conditions in the Ludwigsburg district in the year 2100. The newly planted Douglas fir forest is being managed in accordance with this concept - that is good and sensible," said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier at the planting ceremony.
"For our Gerlingen municipal forest, we explicitly want to introduce climate-stable tree species such as Douglas fir. We want to actively maintain the proportion of conifers (currently 15 percent are conifers, of which slightly less than 2 percent are Douglas firs). The preservation of conifers serves, among other things, the ecological supply of raw materials for local sawmills and timber construction companies," said Mayor Dirk Oestringer.
On average, between 3,000 and 6,000 trees have been planted in Gerlingen's municipal forest every spring in recent years. Potted plants are now predominantly used for planting in the 800-hectare municipal forest, as they grow much better, especially in dry springs. The potted plants are planted using a patented planting system that includes a deposit system for the plant pots and a special ergonomic planting process using a special spade.
The long-term storage of carbon dioxide in wood products forms the so-called product store and thus one of the three pillars of carbon dioxide sequestration through near-natural and sustainable forestry. The other two pillars are the storage of carbon dioxide in living trees and in the forest soil as well as the substitution of products, such as concrete, whose production generates many times more carbon dioxide. Based on the objectives of the forest owner, the town of Gerlingen, and the local conditions, the climate-stable and value-creating tree species Douglas fir is to be introduced into the existing mixed forest.
