Forests of Germany

The forests of Germany covers 11.4 million hectares (28.2 Acres), 32 percent of the total area of the country (as of 2012).

[9] The federal state with the largest private forest share is North Rhine-Westphalia with 66.8 percent.

The Kloster Kammer Hannover has 24,400 hectares, the largest German corporate forest.

[10][12] Around 150,000 hectares of forest are distributed by the churches in Germany to more than 6,500 legal entities (parishes, monasteries, foundations, bishoprics).

By nature, the German forest would be strongly influenced by deciduous trees, in particular red beech (Fagus sylvatica).

From the Middle Ages to the early 19th century, many forests in Germany were over-used or beaten to pieces.

In order to avert an imminent wood problem, these devastated forests and areas were reforested in the context of sustainable forestry on the better soils with good water supply often with common spruce (Picea abies) and on the nutrient-poorer and drier locations with pine (Pinus sylvestris).

[15] These two robust tree species are better able to cope with the difficult ecological conditions on clear-cutting land than frost-sensitive tree species such as European beech and white fir (Abies alba) and also provide high timber yields.