As part of an event organized by the State Working Group on Trees at BUND Saxony-Anhalt (»link to the working group and article«), Prof. Dr. Pierre Ibisch gave a presentation at the Federal Environment Agency. The biologist and ecologist is Professor of Social Ecology of Forest Ecosystems at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) and Chairman of the newly founded Econics Institute e. V. In his lecture, he emphatically demonstrated why, in times of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, forests must be thought of not just as a little more ecological and a little more social, but as socio-ecological.
Prof. Ibisch highlighted the significant pressure facing forests in Germany, including those in the low mountain ranges. Monotonous conifer stands and large-scale clear-cutting heat up much more significantly in the summer heat than natural deciduous and mixed forests. In addition to rising temperatures, such heavily managed areas also suffer from a disturbed water balance: the natural storage capacity of the forest soil is lost and vitality declines. Satellite and drone images clearly show how much greener, wetter, and healthier less intensively managed forests are.
The view of urban areas was not left out either. The example of Dessau-Roßlau showed how much cities heat up in summer. In comparison, natural deciduous and mixed forests remain significantly cooler, even on hot summer days. Forests thus perform an important climatic balancing function and are essential not only for the environment but also for human well-being.
Socialecological forest management
A central theme of the presentation was the introduction of the socioecological approach to forest management. This approach views forests not only as a source of raw materials, but also as complex ecosystems that provide a wide range of benefits to society. The aim is to promote and preserve these services and to take them into account in forest management. This requires a shift in thinking – away from short-term timber harvesting and toward long-term stability and the common good. In this context, Prof. Ibisch also presented the new bachelor’s degree program in “Socioecological Forest Management” at HNEE. Together with Prof. Dr. Katharina Löhr (Chair of Socio-Ecological Forest Governance), Prof. Dr. Daniel Johnson (Chair of Value-Based Forest Economics), Christoph Nowicki (program coordinator), and other practitioners, a new generation of experts is being trained here. The program combines ecological, economic, and social perspectives to enable a holistic and sustainable approach to forest management. Another highlight of the presentation was the introduction of the Econics Institute e.V., which is dedicated to the practical implementation of these ideas. The institute’s goal is to promote green, wet, and cool ecosystems and to develop concrete concepts for a socio-ecological forest transition.
In the subsequent question and answer session, Prof. Ibisch and Birgit Rac from BUND Saxony-Anhalt discussed with the audience what constitutes socioecological forest management. The lively atmosphere of the discussion showed how great the social interest and desire for real change processes are. The presentation and discussion focused on the need for greater participation, new forms of organization, and practical support for forest owners who are willing to break new ground. It was shown how important it is to promote the principles of nature-oriented, ecological, and socially responsible forest management—as a contribution to better protection of our trees and forests and to the sustainable use of our natural resources.
Because one thing is clear: without functioning forests, there is no future worth living.