By nature, more than 90 percent of Germany would be covered by forest, most of it beech or mixed beech/oak forests. These forests are characterized by long-lasting stability; disturbances in the form of storms or fire are unknown to them. Many highly specialized animal and plant species have adapted to such permanent forests. Most of them depend on particularly old trees; the rare middle spotted woodpecker, for example, can only colonize beech forests when the trees are 200 years old or more. Ancient beech forests are the rainforests of Europe, and similar to the tropics, they are in very poor condition.
Further information about the project and partner.