Volunteers have planted the first of a total of 3,000 silver fir trees for the Haselberg forest area near Oelsen in the Eastern Ore Mountains. It was the start of a "Living Mixed Forest" campaign sponsored by several companies and organized by the Saxon Heritage Society. Six companies from Dresden and Nünchritz donated a total of 10,000 euros - and the working time of their teams.
"Silver fir trees are considered a beacon of hope in forest conversion and are safe from game bites, at least after planting in summer," explained association member Karl Schwald. There is an unusually large amount of game in the area, which forms larger packs due to the damage to the forest and the high level of disturbance caused by recreational visitors and damages the growth of young deciduous trees and mountain meadows.
Civic commitment also needed
"We need near-natural forests in the Eastern Ore Mountains," said association chairman Thomas Westphalen. In view of drastic cuts in public spending, civic engagement is needed to preserve the valuable mountain meadows. The greenkeepers of two golf courses, trainees from a Dresden restaurant and the Oelsen hunting club also took up the spade. As the ground is very stony and riddled with roots, forestry workers put the remaining trees in the ground - and also take care of their protection.
The initiators of the campaign in the approximately 500-hectare nature reserve "Mittelgebirgslandschaft um Oelsen" are hoping for more supporters to join in the annual tradition. According to them, valuable mountain meadows and forests in the area are showing serious damage from the former spruce monoculture, the consequences of climate change and damage caused by game browsing and bark beetles. The new plantations are intended to help create a balance between conservation-friendly forests and wildlife.
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