Amid increasing wildfire risk, the Forest Owner Association has warned against overly strict nature conservation measures. According to President Andreas Bitter, nature conservation and a singularly focused approach to climate protection must not result in the continuous buildup of biomass in forests, which consequently elevates the danger of fires.
Bitter noted that the threat of wildfires in Germany continues to climb. He stressed that this risk is exacerbated by the accumulation of biomass-derived from residual crop materials and deadwood-which creates additional fuel. This situation is particularly precarious in forests and protected areas that are left unmanaged, especially when measures for forestry and fire protection are restricted.
The organization argues that active forest protection is essential, requiring a synthesis of nature conservation, climate adaptation strategies, and wildfire prevention efforts. This active management should involve forestry practices designed to boost the vitality of the tree populations and remove trees affected by drought.
