Forests in Germany: a comprehensive exploration of its green treasures
The Wood Guide · The forests
The forest series · our regionForests in Germany
Fairy-tale forests, yes — but above all the country where the word sustainability was coined in 1713, and where scientific forest management was invented.
- 11.4 million hectares
- 32% of the country
- Nachhaltigkeit, 1713
German forests in brief
Forests cover about 11.4 million hectares, some 32 per cent of the total land area — spread over regions with very different soils and climates.
The history runs from prehistory to the present day. In Roman times and the Middle Ages, large areas were cleared for farming and settlements; wood went en masse into building, heating and industry, resulting in considerable deforestation.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, concern about the timber supply turned into action. Germany became the cradle of scientific forest management, with the concept of Nachhaltigkeit: harvest no more wood than the forest can regenerate. That is the idea we now call sustainability.
Hans Carl von Carlowitz was not a conservationist but an administrator of the Saxon mining industry. Without pit props, his mines were at risk of collapse. In 1713 he wrote that no more should be felled than grows back — pure economic necessity, which three centuries later became the foundation of environmental thinking. See responsible forest management.
- Forest area
- about 11.4 million hectares
- Share
- about 32% of the country
- Broadleaf forest
- low mountain ranges and lowlands: beech, oak, maple
- Coniferous forest
- higher and poorer soils: Norway spruce, pine
- The concept of Nachhaltigkeit
- Von Carlowitz, 1713
- Role
- ecology, economy, culture and recreation
To be fair: Germany's spruce forests are in a bad way. Years of drought weakened the trees, after which the bark beetle wiped out entire stands. Large parts of the Harz and the Sauerland have been left bare in recent years — the most visible climate effect on European forests so far.
In pictures · Broadleaf, conifer and the mountains
Schematic drawing.
Broadleaf, conifer and the mountains
Broadleaf forests
Dominate the low mountain ranges and lowlands. The main species are beech, oak and maple — beech is so dominant that Germany is described as a natural beech country.
Coniferous forests
Mainly on poorer, higher and more acidic soils, and planted on a large scale for timber production. Norway spruce and Scots pine predominate.
Mountain forests
In the Alps and the higher low mountain ranges, with silver fir, Norway spruce and beech. They protect against avalanches and erosion.
Floodplain and swamp forest
Along the major rivers, greatly reduced by river regulation but recovering in places.
The Black Forest in the south-west, the Bavarian Forest on the Czech border and the Harz in the middle of the country. All three are as famous for their nature as for their role in German culture and literature.
From clear-felling to forest science
- Roman times and the Middle AgesLarge areas cleared for farming and settlements; wood used intensively for building, heating and industry.
- 18th century: the scareThe timber supply is in danger of running out. In 1713 Von Carlowitz formulates the principle of Nachhaltigkeit.
- 19th century: the scienceSystematic forest management with rotation periods, yield tables and planting schemes. German forestry schools become the model worldwide.
- 20th century: the conifer plantationLarge-scale planting of Norway spruce in even-aged stands, aimed at maximum timber yield.
- Now: the correctionDrought and bark beetle force a conversion to mixed, multi-layered forest with more broadleaf trees and a greater mix of species.
Frequently asked questions about German forests
How much forest does Germany have?
About 11.4 million hectares, some 32 per cent of the land area.
Where does the word sustainability come from?
From German forestry. In 1713 Hans Carl von Carlowitz wrote about Nachhaltigkeit: harvest no more wood than grows back. See responsible forest management.
Which trees grow in German forests?
Mainly beech, oak and maple in the broadleaf forests; Norway spruce and Scots pine in the coniferous forests. In the mountains, silver fir and beech grow together.
What is happening to Germany's spruce forests?
Years of drought weakened the trees, after which the bark beetle wiped out entire stands. As a result, parts of the Harz and the Sauerland are now bare.
German forests in perspective
The country that invented sustainability is now seeing what happens when you plant too much of one species.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Nationalpark Hainich, Thüringen — Chattus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rabenklippe, Harz — Fährtenleser, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nationalpark Schwarzwald — MHikeBike, CC BY 2.0
The Wood Guide
More in Trees & forests
- Forests in France: A Treasure of Natural Riches
- What is a forest?
- Types of Forests: A World of Diversity
- The Invisible Power of Forests: More than Just Trees
- Forests in Belgium: A Detailed Overview
- Forest types in the Netherlands: A Diversity of Green Treasures
Other sections:Wood speciesUnderstanding woodCare & finishingChoosing & buyingBuild it yourself