PYROPHOB: Forest fires, sustainable forest development and rare forest dwellers
The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) played a key role in the PYROPHOB research project, which spent five years developing the scientific basis for sustainable strategies for dealing with the growing challenge of forest fires, particularly in Brandenburg's pine forests. The research results show that natural vegetation processes and adapted forest fire aftercare are crucial for climate-resilient forests. The project also focussed on biodiversity and led to the discovery of the moss clubmoss and the rediscovery of the hairy weevil, which had been lost for 100 years.
The studies conducted by HNEE and its partners show that intensive forestry interventions after fires can make it more difficult for ecosystems to regenerate. In Treuenbrietzen, for example, it was shown that pioneer tree species such as aspen quickly and successfully colonise the area. Just three years after the fire, they reached heights of over five metres and proved to be more resistant to fire events than the pine trees that are widespread in Brandenburg.
In the second study area in Jüterbog, regeneration was slower. This was due to a higher landscape temperature and a higher proportion of sand in the soil. The research work was accompanied by extreme weather conditions: Four of the five hottest years since weather records began fell within the project period. The number of days with temperatures above 30°C in the study areas was up to five times higher than the Brandenburg average. The ongoing climate change will further intensify this effect and lead to forests regenerating less reliably after fires in the future.
Another key finding is the importance of natural vegetation development and the avoidance of tillage and leaving deadwood after fires. The studies show that mechanical tillage after fires further deteriorates the soil structure and that new plantings of pine seedlings have little chance of survival. In contrast, avoiding tillage and leaving deadwood in place led to faster soil recovery and greater structural diversity. Overall, HNEE and its project partners were able to document how nature impressively regulates itself. "The results of PYROPHOB confirm our assumption that intensive forestry interventions after fires are unfavourable for the regeneration of ecosystems," explains Pierre Ibisch, Professor of Social Ecology of Forest Ecosystems and project leader of PYROPHOB. "Natural processes and smart management of post-fire care are a crucial basis for future forest development under the increasingly difficult conditions caused by climate change," Ibisch continues.
In addition to forest ecological processes, the focus was also on biodiversity aspects. The researchers discovered new species of fungi, including the club moss, as well as previously unknown ecological relationships, such as the symbiosis of porcini and chestnut with trembling poplars.
A particular surprise was the rediscovery of the hairy weevil, a beetle species that was thought to be lost in Germany. This was the first time in over 100 years that it had been found in the study areas.
Recommendations for action for sustainable forest management
Based on the research results, the recommendations for action for politics and Forestry are as follows:
- Allow natural regeneration
- Leave deadwood on burnt areas
- Establish fire-resilient mixed forests
The PYROPHOB project was carried out by eight institutions, including the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). It was funded by the Forest Climate Fund of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
The final publication has been published in the Eberswalde Forestry Series Volume 77 and is available for download .
Note on image material
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