Primeval forest project: The rescue mission for Germany's ancient forests

06.08.2024 - In the middle of the dense forests of the Eifel, in the small village of Wershofen, is Wohllebens Waldakademie - a centre for education and engagement in the field of nature and environmental protection. Here, interested parties can take part in numerous seminars and training courses on the topics of forests and nature. But the academy goes beyond pure educational work: with the primeval forest project, it is actively committed to the protection and regeneration of old forests. In doing so, it counts on the support of private individuals and companies from all over Germany.

Where better to learn about forests and nature than in the heart of the forests themselves? Surrounded by 400 hectares of forest (including 80 hectares of primeval forest project area), nestled in the picturesque landscape of the Eifel, is Wohlleben's Forest Academy. Here, trees are allowed to be what they are: a habitat and home for numerous species and indispensable pillars of our ecosystem. "We firmly believe that you only want to protect and preserve what you love and know," say Johanna and Tobias Wohlleben, Managing Directors of the Forest Academy in Wershofen. "And that's why it's important to us to make the topic of forest and environmental protection more appealing and to give people a real sense of enjoyment in this area."

Tobias Wohlleben had the idea of founding the Forest Academy in 2016. "After the success of my father's book 'The Secret Life of Trees', I realised that many people were interested in experiencing the knowledge described in the book first-hand," he explains. His father, Peter Wohlleben, is a well-known German forester, lecturer and author who is known for his books about the forest and has also worked with Steinbeis Papier in the past also worked with Steinbeis Papier in the past and has also visited the paper mill in Glückstadt.

As there was no institution at the time that imparted forest knowledge to a wide audience and at the same time campaigned for forest protection, they decided to found the Forest Academy. The mission: to advance forest conservation in Germany. Today, the academy offers a wide range of seminars and training courses - from forest guide training and seminars on ecological forest management to mushroom seminars and herb walks. In order to get even more people interested in forest conservation, the Forest Academy has expanded its reach and also offers online courses at www.wald-lernen.de. It is also active on social media, from YouTube and LinkedIn to TikTok, so that people who do not have the opportunity to come to Wershofen can find out more and continue their education.

UrwaldProjekt: Active protection for old forests

With the founding of the Forest Academy, THE forest protection project in Germany was also established very quickly, the Primeval Forest Projectwas launched at a very early stage. The forest conservation project in Germany, which has been honoured by the United Nations, is now one of the main focuses of the Forest Academy and concentrates on saving ancient deciduous trees and protecting endangered species. The Forest Academy leases land for this purpose in order to protect it from commercial utilisation. The existing old trees are left standing and young trees are given the chance to grow in peace.

"The primeval forest project is unique in this form," explains Tobias Wohlleben. "It aims to protect old deciduous forests in Germany that are worth preserving." The search for suitable areas takes two years on average. As soon as a suitable area has been found, conservation sponsors are sought who would like to actively take on a sponsorship and thus contribute to the protection of the forests.

How the primeval forest project works

Interested private individuals or companies can protect their own forest area from an area of just one square metre. Forest owners can use the proceeds to compensate for the lost income from timber harvesting. At the same time, they lose their right of use for the next 50 years so that the forest is consistently protected. The protection of the area is secured in the land register by a notary. The price, starting at 3.65 euros per square metre, is a one-off purchase price. There are no recurring costs for the protection sponsors over the 50 years. Immediately after the appointment, a forest protection certificate is issued with exact information on the location of the protected area and pictures of the protected area as a PDF document. The individual coordinates and images of the protected area can be found here. Alternatively, there is also the option of receiving a certificate by post, which is printed on 100% recycled paper. During the ordering process, there is also the option of giving the protected area and the certificate as a gift.

But the project goes even further: research work is also being carried out. "Through our research work in collaboration with the University of Koblenz, we have already made some impressive discoveries," reports Johanna Wohlleben. One of these is a (probably) new species of lichen (but possibly only a second discovery). "It's fascinating to see how species exist there that have adapted perfectly to the climatic conditions and are dependent on the moisture and dead wood that are present in these forests," says the 30-year-old.