Forest Strategy 2050.

The aim of this Strategy is to preserve the forests in Germany with their diverse ecosystem services for individuals and society, nature and the economy, and to adapt them to changing climate conditions. As a result of climate change, the extreme weather events of 2017 to 2020 represent a clear break in forest development: storms and droughts in combination with extreme heat favoured large-scale mass increases of bark beetles and other pests that impair forest management. The biological diversity of the forest, as well as the care and management of the forest by forest owners and foresters, are the basis for securing and providing ecosystem services. The main milestones until the year 2030 include: action plans for adapting forests to climate change; conversion measures for the forests that are threatened by drought; sustainable management and the use of wood including use of wood in residential construction; improving biodiversity in the forest; implementing the concept for efficient forest nature conservation; regeneration of site-appropriate, species-rich, and climate-resilient mixed forests from natural regeneration, seeding, and planting; and support for promotion of forestry mergers.
The text provides for the ecosystem services of the forest for society that are fundamental for human life and environment and ecosystem including:"basic services" such as nutrient cycling and soil formation; "provisional services" that is the renewable resources that forests provide such as wood, drinking water and wild meat; "regular services" - typically protective services - such as climate protection services; "cultural services" with which forests contribute to the well-being of people, such as the indirect use of forests for recreation, sport and health. The Forest Strategy 2050 is based on a model that appears appropriate and plausible from today's perspective. It must reconcile the various requirements for the conservation and sustainable use of forests and, in doing so, address changing external factors. For this purpose, forest management that is as close to nature as possible and provides all ecosystem services is strived for. In this way, the Forest Strategy supports the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG) of the United Nations, especially in connection with the promotion of sustainable forest management, the restoration of degraded forests and forest reproduction. In addition, German Forest Strategy is integrated into international and European commitments on sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
The milestones of the Strategy until 2050 are identified as: (1) Protection of climate through use of wood from domestic forestry, rewarding climate protection services and establishment of wind turbines in the forest for energy supply; (2) Adaptation to climate change through intensified forest conversion, climate change monitoring and laying out frameworks and measures for forest adaptation to climate change; (3) Biodiversity and forest nature conservation through improve of biodiversity in forests and implementing a concept for forest nature conservation, monitoring biodiversity development, strengthening cooperation and networking in this respect, and limiting external factors of threat to forest biodiversity; (4) Soil and water through increase information for forest soil expansion and protection, decrease harmful inputs to forest soils, integration of forests into landscape water management concepts and taking decision in forestry by paying attention to importance of water management. The text further discuss issues of forest development, management and hunting, forest ownership and new value creation, digitalization and technology, research and development, communication and networking. This Policy is drafted in 4 sections referring to Background (1); Output (2); Mission Statement 2050 (3); Fields of Action and Milestones (4).