The management of the city forest of the city of Hünfeld with an area of more than 700 hectares led to a surplus of 33,773 euros last year – a figure that should give the city treasurer pleasure in normal years.
Hünfeld – However, as was clear from the council’s deliberations on this balance sheet, despite falling wood prices, the income is due in particular to increased felling of damaged wood, caused by bark beetles and drought stress of the last summer. You therefore also represent a mortgage for the coming financial years, balanced Hünfeld’s Mayor Benjamin Tschesnok (CDU).
Especially Book and Spruce trees suffered from drought stress and were attacked by diseases and pests. Therefore, instead of the planned 1633 cubic meters, more than 2100 cubic meters had to be hammered into the beech trees. In the case of the spruce, 3342 solid cubic meters were harvested instead of the planned 828 solid cubic meters.
Stadtwald Hünfeld: Bark beetle clogs spruce trees
The Spruce trees It is not just the bark beetle that attacks. In addition, the stocks were also affected by wind breaks. The fall was also higher in the oaks. Instead of the planned 361 solid cubic meters, almost 450 solid cubic meters were harvested. Only in the case of pines did the amount of felling, at 297 solid meters, remain well below the planned 1048 solid meters.
As can be seen from these figures, far more trees had to be felled and processed compared to the plans for a sustainably balanced annual cutting rate. Since this damage pattern in many regions Germany and Europe is to be found, this also depresses the marketing prices. While the average sales this year were only over 42 euros, in the previous year 62.76 euros were achieved. The situation is expected to become even worse in 2020.
Mayor: Premature strike is a mortgage for the coming fiscal years
The premature logging of these damaged trees is from the point of view of the Mayor a mortgage for the coming financial years in the city forest, in which, given the price pressure caused by the high amount of damaged wood, no improvement can be expected. In addition, due to antitrust requirements Hessen Forest only until the end of the year wood marketing for the City of Hünfeld can take over. From then on, the state enterprise is forbidden to take over the marketing for municipalities with forest ownership over 100 hectares. Currently the Magistrate started working with other municipalities to set up new marketing structures.
The topic of tree death in the Hünstelder Land has recently been discussed at the meeting of the community’s committee for the environment, tourism, agriculture and forestry Nüsttal in the community center Hofaschenbach been discussed. (hw)
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