It’s just past six o’clock in the morning. The pale light of dawn is shimmering through the tops of the fir trees near Sonthofen-Wertach in the Upper Allgäu. The simple forestry hut on the edge of the woods is already a hive of activity. A dozen people – from students to pensioners – have gathered here to do some voluntary work for the forest.
Speaker of the Mountain Forest Project Peter Naumann
Planting tomorrow’s forests today
In the mountain forest project, graduate forest engineer Peter Naumann and thousands of volunteers are committed to the reforestation of the forests
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
While the last few drag themselves out of bed, Peter Naumann greets the cheerful bunch at the breakfast table. The professional forestry engineer is the spokesperson for the Mountain Forest Project, which is dedicated to protecting and replanting woodland. To be specific: volunteers roll up their sleeves and carry out various stints of work, normally a week at a time, in Bavaria’s forests. Just half an hour later the lay forestry workers get going: there’s a lot to be done!
Volunteers can’t be late risers if they intend to get stuck into the Mountain Forest Project. And when it comes to the sections in the mountains they need to be sure-footed with a reasonable head for heights. Apart from that, everyone who is willing to spend their free time doing something for the good of the forest is most welcome. “Nowadays the Mountain Forest Project in Germany organises more than a hundred week-long stints each year in 52 locations, which brings 2,500 people into the forests on an annual basis,” declares Peter Naumann with pride.
Young pines provide stability for the Bavarian Forest
The young pines that the volunteers are looking after today would not be here at all if it wasn’t for the Mountain Forest Project. In 1990 huge winter storms destroyed vast swathes of the forest in the Upper Allgäu. The fir trees there, notorious for their shallow roots, had little defence against the strong winds.
In conjunction with the Sonthofen section of the Bavarian State Forestry Commission, participants in the Mountain Forest Project planted thousands of small silver firs the following year. “The fir tree is important because it has tap roots,” explains Peter Naumann. “Through this work, which you don’t even see at first glance, we are bringing stability to the forest. However, it’s necessary to protect the young trees from the deer. Most types of game like eating fir trees like we eat lasagne.”
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
The Mountain Forest Project: reforestation for animals and humans
A particularly large number of projects are running in Bavaria with its extensive and varied forests: In Oberammergau volunteers are involved in rewetting the moorland. In Lechtal they are conserving the rare winter heather pine forest. And in the Bavarian Alpine foothills on Lake Walchensee they are planting young trees and looking after the protection forest – to name just a few examples.
Yet this dedicated work does not just benefit the forests – the involvement in the Mountain Forest Project is of great personal gain for all concerned, according to the forestry engineer. “By planting a tree I have the chance to make a productive and creative difference to all our lives. I optimise the water supply, I stabilise the forest floor and thus do something to counter erosion. I improve the lives of countless insects and animals.” An activity that volunteers may find strenuous but that is also purposeful and satisfying, so that they soon forget their tiredness.
Mankind and nature depend on each other
In the evening they sit by the campfire feeling exhausted but happy. Especially employed chefs pamper the tired forest friends with regional organic dishes. And as a contented silence settles on them, they probably all sense the deeper meaning that Peter Naumann encapsulates in his words: “We are all part of nature. That’s why it matters what we each do as individuals. The forests are not just a decorative accessory. Our lives depend on them.” If you are looking for a rather different kind of holiday in Bavaria, you can dedicate your energies to the forest here – with the Mountain Forest Project.
© www.bayern.by - Tobias Gerber
Peter, your tip for…
… a hike by the water:
I live in Kempten and prefer to go to the Gunzesrieder Ach for recreation. From the Gunzesrieder Säge, I walk along a very natural river, which sinks like the Grand Canyon. There are great places everywhere. Outside the main season I am often completely alone at these places.
… a hike with refreshment:
A great hiking trail leads via Burgberg to the Grüntenhaus. Here you can still feel how it must have been in former times to live in the Allgäu. Because here you can’t just drive up by car, you have to earn your Weißbier or mineral water in an ascent of about one hour. This is very rustic and shows the great originality that the Allgäu still has. Or you can start at the hiking car park Kranzeck and head for the Grüntenhütte. Both huts are managed alpine pastures where you can also eat.
