--- title: "Initiative \"Der Wald ruft\" - Harzer Tourismusverband e.V." url: "https://www.harzinfo.de/en/pure-nature/the-forest-is-calling-initiative" description: "The \"Der Wald ruft\" initiative provides information about the current forest situation in the Harz Mountains, as well as road closures and donation opportunities." language: "en" breadcrumb: "Root > Harzinfo > Pure Nature > \"The Forest is Calling\" initiative" --- Initiative "Der Wald ruft"  =========================== **The forest is calling – don’t ignore it!** -------------------------------------------- In recent years, droughts, storms and other weather extremes have destroyed large parts of the spruce forests in the Harz. This allowed the bark beetle to spread massively. On the open areas that have emerged, a new forest is now growing – but its future look remains uncertain. The initiative “The Forest Calls” aims to inform guests, locals and anyone interested about these developments and involve them in the visible changes. The goal is to sharpen awareness of the natural processes in the forest. This also includes explaining the different strategies used in commercial forests and in Harz National Park, each setting its own priorities. **Overview:** - - - - - ### Well informed! Whether a tourist or a local, here you’ll find up-to-date information about the forest situation, background details, and offers related to the changes in the forest. Before your visit, check the notes on to plan your tour well. ### The most frequently asked questions Expand allCollapse all - Why are forests particularly affected by climate change? Our forests have to adapt to the acute and rapid climate changes. However, complex ecosystems like forests need many forest generations for such an adaptation, which can take 100 to 200 years or even longer. With their long generational cycles, forest ecosystems are therefore under particular pressure. - Why is spruce especially affected by climate change and the bark beetle? Spruces are shallow-rooted and therefore vulnerable to storms. They also need a lot of water to grow. At the same time, water is needed for the production of resin, for example to repel bark beetles. After the storm Frederike and the dry summers from 2018 to 2020, the weakened spruces became more susceptible to bark beetle infestations. The main problem here is the lack of rainfall during the growing season. In addition, many spruce forests still grow outside their natural range today. The overly warm locations or poorly rooted soils increase the vulnerability of these spruce forests. - Why are there so many spruce forests in the Harz? Many of the pure spruce forests were planted directly after the Second World War. At that time, they were the only fast-growing tree species available in large quantities as seeds, from which plants for reforestation could be grown. It was also impossible to plant more demanding tree species on the large open areas with their extreme climatic conditions. Spruce wood was urgently needed for reconstruction and economic growth. - Why didn’t people take action against the forest dieback earlier? The foresters have been “restructuring” the pure conifer forests for several decades now. They rely on site-adapted and diverse deciduous and conifer tree species that can better cope with climate change. However, forest restructuring and tree growth take time, so developments only become visible after a while. - Why isn’t the dead wood removed from the forest? National parks protect natural processes. By allowing phases of decay and collapse, they create valuable habitats that have otherwise become rare. That’s why the wood in the area of the largely remains in the forest. Once the bark has fallen off, there are no bark beetles left in the deadwood. The young beetles have long since flown away and found other host trees. Deadwood provides an important habitat for fungi, insects, birds, and bats. Deadwood is also left in managed forests for ecological reasons. However, standing deadwood can pose a danger to people during reforestation and later forest maintenance. For workplace safety reasons, it has to be removed from many areas. - When will the forest change stop? Since future developments are uncertain, there is no general answer to this question. - What will the forest look like in the future? In the , nature is only interfered with in a few areas. This allows the forest here to turn back into a wild natural forest. In the managed forests, the forest is actively changed through what is known as forest conversion. Pure coniferous forests are transformed into more stable mixed forests with trees of different ages. This is done by planting and by natural regeneration such as seed fall and sowing. The diversity of tree species in the forest is meant to promote its ability to adapt to the future climate. In the high altitudes of the Harz Mountains, spruce trees are naturally native and will therefore continue to be the main tree species alongside rowan. At lower altitudes, mainly deciduous trees such as beech, sycamore, rowan, willow, ash, and oak will grow more frequently again. - The forest – climate victim or climate saviour? On one hand, forests are threatened by climate change, but on the other, they also reduce the CO2 content in the air. Trees and forests absorb climate-damaging CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow. The wood of trees and the soil store large amounts of CO2, thus making a positive contribution to the climate balance. - Is it still safe to go hiking? Both the Harz National Park, the state forestry enterprises and private forest owners take their duties to ensure traffic safety very seriously and work on maintaining the forest trail networks, managing forest care, timber harvesting and meeting the needs of forest visitors. Nevertheless, for your own safety, please follow the rules of conduct of the before and during your visit to the forest, and observe any possible . - Where do, or did, so many bark beetles suddenly come from? Bark beetles are a natural part of the forest ecosystem and have always been present in forests. They infest sick, dying or fallen trees and then emit a scent that attracts other bark beetles. Dry years favour reproduction, allowing the bark beetles to spread particularly strongly in the weakened spruces. - How can you tell if a tree is infested with bark beetles? You can recognise a bark beetle infestation on a tree by sawdust, fallen green needles, discoloured crowns, peeling bark or traces of woodpeckers searching for larvae under the bark. - How does the bark beetle spread and when do they fly? A female bark beetle, together with her offspring and their descendants, can produce hundreds of thousands of offspring in just one year. In a dry and warm year, up to three generations of bark beetles can develop. However, a tree’s defence mechanisms already fail once about 200 beetles have infested it. After overwintering, the beetles start flying in spring when air temperatures reach 16 degrees. - Why are the beetles also called engravers or printers? The brood pattern of the large eight-toothed spruce bark beetle resembles an open book – which is why the beetle is also called the book printer. The brood pattern of the smaller copper engraver, on the other hand, is star-shaped and its name refers to copper engravings. - Are there other ways to combat the bark beetle? From spring onwards, traps and chemical attractants can be used to catch the beetles in commercial forests in order to limit the population from the start. However, such measures only help to a limited extent in the case of a massive infestation. ### The Forest Etiquette #### How should you behave properly in the forest? The forest is a natural area that is constantly changing. It reacts to climatic and weather conditions and keeps developing further. You may enter it for nature-friendly recreation, but you should keep a few things in mind. Watch out for possible dangers typical of the forest and follow the current rules of conduct. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes suitable for the weather. Remember that you always enter the forest at your own risk. Severe weather When hiking in the forest, it’s important to stay alert. Branches can break from the treetops at any time, and there are often stones or exposed roots on the paths. Avoid visiting the forest during storms or severe weather. In case of a thunderstorm, keep your distance from tall solitary trees, as there is a greater risk of lightning strikes. Even after a storm, there is still danger from falling branches or collapsing trees. Stay on the paths When you visit the forest, stay on the marked hiking paths. This way, you protect yourself and also help to preserve nature. Keep in mind that, besides the usual dangers in the forest, there may sometimes be restrictions due to forestry work or hunting activities. \#TakeItWithYou Please don’t leave your rubbish in the forest — take it with you or dispose of it in the designated waste and recycling bins. Fire Open fires are strictly prohibited in the forest due to the increased risk of forest fires. Use only the designated fire pits. When leaving the fire site, make sure that the fire is completely extinguished. No smoking Please follow the smoking ban in the forest. Throwing away burning or smouldering objects is strictly forbidden. Noise level Please keep quiet in the forest and be considerate of the animals and other visitors. Plant protection Treat plant life with care. If you're not sure whether plants, mushrooms or berries are safe, please leave them in the forest. Dog leash requirement Dogs must be kept on a leash. Consideration Please use the paths designated for cycling and be considerate of hikers. Parking Please only use the designated car parks. Parking at forest entrances or on forest paths may block access for emergency vehicles or timber transport. In addition, driving on forest paths is reserved for forestry vehicles and forest owners. Closures & diversions Please make sure to follow the signposted diversions and do not enter any closed paths or areas! This especially includes entering restricted areas during logging, forestry & hunting operations, using hunting facilities such as raised hides, as well as climbing on wood stacks (timber storage areas). Forest laws Please also observe the respective forest laws of the federal states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, as well as the specific rules of conduct in nature reserves and in the Harz National Park area. Emergencies In case of an emergency, please try to provide the nearest designated rescue point. If possible, remember or note down the letter-number combination indicated at the rescue points. ### Donation options > A tree that falls makes more noise than a forest that grows. Proverb from Tibet ### Partner of the initiative #### You might also be interested in: