The "sustainable bee forest" concept and implementation

The project "sustainable bee forest" develops and implements a new forest management concept that improves the habitat of flower-pollinating insects during re- and afforestation from the very beginning while generating new sources of income from non-wood forest products. This concept is a response to the need for adaptation strategies in forest management in the face of climate change. The main target group are smallholder farmers who are faced with forest dieback in the face of climate change. Large tracts of forest underwent major disturbances over the last years (pests, storms, fire). The German ministry of agriculture and food (BMEL) estimates that over the next years almost 500.000 ha of forest land will need to be afforested (status: Oct 2023).