25/08/2021

Hand holding a small plant with green leaves, symbolizing growth and sustainability.

Forest Report 2021: How We Protect Our Trees

By guest author M. Schwarz

How is our forest actually doing? The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which is also responsible for the German forest, knows the answer. One-third of Germany's area is forested, which is a high value in Europe. The crowns of the trees are assessed annually in random samples – in the Forest Condition Survey. How the top of a tree is doing tells us something about its general health. 

Photosynthesis: Tree with green leaves
Like all plants, trees perform photosynthesis with their leaves. In the process, they produce our oxygen.

Three reasons why you should love and protect your forest:

Spruce forest in Germany
Spruce is the most common tree species in German forests – but it does not tolerate heat well.
Forest at sunset
If we limit global warming, our forests could recover.
Tree trunks in a storage area
Our hunger for paper is enormous: Many trees are felled for this purpose.
Recycling paper packaging
Valuable materials, not waste: The industry creates new products from old paper packaging.
Notepads made from recycled paper
Continue using resources: The blank side of used paper can be turned into small notepads.