Oberberg Forest

• Bergischer Conservation Association (RBN)

• Biological Station Oberberg

• Forestry Association Bergisches Land

• Wood Office Rhein-Berg-Siegerland

• County Hunting Advisor of the Oberbergischer Kreis

• County Hunters' Association Oberberg

• State Enterprise Forest and Wood NRW

  • Regional Forestry Office Bergisches Land

  • Regional Forestry Office Rhein-Sieg-Erft

• Nature Conservation Association Germany, District Group Oberberg (NABU)

• Nature Conservation Advisory Board of the Oberbergischer Kreis

• municipal forest owners (cities and municipalities in the Oberbergischer Kreis,

• Aggerverband and Wupperverband

• Oberbergischer Kreis

• private forest owners with their own forestry personnel

• German Forest Protection Association, District Association Oberbergischer Kreis (SDW)

• Forest Farmers' Association Oberberg Nord

• Forest Youth Windfus

The newly emerging forests on damaged areas should be stable and resilient to withstand climatic changes in the long term and fulfill various forest functions.

Diversity in terms of tree species mixture, stratification, age, genetic variability, and the development of habitat types and species communities is considered a stability feature of forests. Each forest owner must make fundamental decisions regarding how the future forest should develop on their respective site.

Both economic and ecological aspects play a role in these decisions. Suitable tools include traditional reforestation of cleared areas (with or without incorporating natural regeneration), leaving dead spruce trees in place while utilizing the natural regeneration that occurs, and—if necessary—complementing with additional plantings, as well as allowing completely natural development on damaged areas.

The working group is committed to an economically as well as ecologically sustainable management of the Oberberg forest.

On reforested areas, the raw material wood shall continue to be sustainably produced and generate income in the future.

Depending on the size and orientation of the operation, it may also make sense, in the interest of diversification, to focus on biodiversity on selected areas as well as special uses such as burial forests or the provision of areas for compensation measures, water protection, and other ecosystem services.

The Oberberg forest is of great importance as a habitat for native animal and plant species. Measures for reforestation, maintenance, and management must reflect this significance.

This includes refraining from driving, clearing, and mulching the entire area. Special sites should be treated according to their conservation value.

In certain cases (voluntarily and with compensation for the owner), unmanaged forest areas should also be allowed.

The diversity of native Central European tree species is the backbone of establishing species-rich mixed forests under climate change.

The native diversity of tree species fundamentally has sufficient potential to ensure climate-stable reforestation of damaged areas in an economically and ecologically sustainable manner. It forms the framework of future reforestation. Non-native tree species can serve as a complement without endangering native fauna and flora, provided they are integrated into a framework of native tree species at suitable locations.

In nature conservation areas, with a focus on prioritizing the protection of native communities, it is recommended to primarily utilize native deciduous trees (according to List A in the appendix). In private forests, potential natural regeneration can additionally include up to a total coniferous wood share of max. 20 percent, supplemented by the four coniferous tree species Silver Fir, European Larch, Scots Pine, and Yew.

In order to cultivate a stable and diverse mixed forest, it is essential to monitor and manage the stands in the coming decades through mixed growth and spacing regulation, as well as protective measures against browsing, fraying, and later on, bark stripping damage caused by wildlife.

This applies to planted young growth, but especially to those arising from natural regeneration. Spruce natural regeneration can be integrated into the climate-stable mixed forest as a temporary mix to a limited extent.

A hunting strategy for game that is aligned with the needs of the forest is crucial for the development of future forests.

The hunting community acknowledges its special responsibility in this regard and will ensure that leaseholders and hunting rights holders fulfill this responsibility. A constructive dialogue between hunting, forestry, and nature conservation is indispensable for this.

The major challenges of the future concerning nature conservation, forestry, and hunting can only be solved together.

The fundamental prerequisites for successful cooperation are a shared foundation of trust, mutual respect, and dialogue on equal footing. Local and regional levels offer numerous opportunities to make tangible changes and use the inevitable transformation processes for one's own transition toward sustainability.

The term "contract-based nature conservation" refers to the monetary recognition of voluntary contributions made by land managers for nature conservation. This is already widespread in agriculture and contributes to the income of farms. In forestry, however, such agreements are still rare and currently play a negligible role in value creation. This could be expanded, for example, through performance-based compensation for specific ecosystem services provided by forests.

Priority areas for contract-based nature conservation projects in forests include ecologically valuable special sites. This enables these typically small-scale areas to be managed with a focus on nature conservation.

Silvicultural concepts aimed at producing the highest possible quality wood assortments are best suited to meet future requirements in line with this agreement. Wood assortments should therefore be oriented towards transferring the wood into a long-term bond as construction or material (durable wood products).

Offers for environmental education and forest pedagogy for adults and adolescents are suitable means to raise public awareness about the forest and enable them to competently assess current developments.

Forest owners are requested to provide suitable areas in their forests for the implementation of such offers and to actively participate in their realization.

The agreement partners intend to expand and strengthen the alliance between forestry, nature conservation, and hunting in the Oberberg district. Mutual training and joint further education are at the center of this effort. This not only creates greater competencies but also strengthens mutual trust and promotes dialogue on an equal footing.

In the coming years, large areas of forest stages will develop that will make hunting significantly more difficult but at the same time even more necessary. It is therefore urgently required that landowners engage in dialogue with hunting authorities on-site to take appropriate measures to facilitate or ensure easy hunting. These measures include, for example, the creation of shrub-free hunting lanes, the designation of priority hunting areas and wildlife resting zones, as well as the construction of hunting stands. Representatives of forest management associations and hunting communities can also be involved in this dialogue.