Tu munchen explores frankenwald

Everywhere in the frankenwald, former land use has left its mark. The evidence of historical forest management and the importance of forestry for the frankenwald today and tomorrow were the topics that led students of the technical university (tu) of munich on a field trip to the state forest of the rothenkirchen forestry operation.
Professor soren schobel from the chair of "landscape architecture of regional open spaces" designs concepts for the development of a landscape on the basis of existing, grown structures.
That is why he and his team were specifically looking for recognizable traces of economic history in northern bavaria.
In the forest areas of the frankenwald, it is above all the remains of former coal piles, old hollow roads and historic flora installations that still bear witness today to the rough economic importance of the forest. The travel group’s interest in the results of the "cultural heritage mapping of the frankenwald" was correspondingly great, with which the bavarian state forests, together with knowledgeable local conservationists, record and secure these old structures in the rothenkirchen forestry operation.

Results in concepts

During a guided tour in the state forest, forestry manager peter hagemann explained how the results obtained are integrated into the concept of current forest management. For example, the archived cultural assets are taken into consideration when using timber harvesting machines. The trail system that has evolved over the centuries is still used today, although modern rope technology has made it possible to do without a large part of the earlier access. This makes sustainable wood use possible while at the same time protecting the soil. In addition, attractive hiking trails and rough flats as refuge areas for endangered species have been preserved undisturbed.
The students and their teachers were able to experience this direct juxtaposition of all the important services provided by the forest with a view of the kodel dam. "Water and soil protection, sustainable raw material production, forest nature conservation and forest recreation take place here on the same flat", according to hagemann.
Numerous questions about the ongoing forest restructuring as a basis for securing these functions for future generations led to the topic "future of the frankenwald". A future, it was agreed, in which the forest will continue to play a key role.