This year, too, the ongoing drought and lack of rainfall are vividly illustrating the consequences of climate change. The spruce, the dominant tree species in our region, is barely producing any resin due to the extreme conditions and is thus unable to defend itself against the increasing bark beetle infestation. In our home region, the Bergisches Land, the spruce forests have almost entirely died and have already been cleared on a large scale. But where initially a trail of devastation remained after heavy harvesters battled their way through the steep Bergisches Land slopes, the first green shoots are now appearing. Just over a year ago, in the spring of 2021, we planted over 12,000 trees together with the Bergisches Land Forestry Association. The young Böker Forest is growing visibly, and the young trees – safely protected by a fence from browsing deer and rooting by wild boar – have already more than doubled in size. The mixed forest contains maple, beech and chestnut trees, as well as the conifers Douglas fir, larch, coastal fir and silver fir.
