Overview

• Planting begins now with up to 545,000 seedlings targeted this year, with roughly one million more scheduled for March and April when soils are frost‑free.
• The mix prioritizes oaks (about 27%), Douglas fir (14%) and beech (10%) to reduce reliance on drought‑ and bark‑beetle‑vulnerable spruce.
• Officials say about 127,000 hectares—nearly 23% of the state forest—require reforestation after severe bark beetle damage, with a six‑year replanting obligation under state law.
• Funding of €11 million per year is available to private owners, municipalities and the state forest through the Action Program Forest, with support committed at least until 2036.
• ThüringenForst is sourcing plants from its Breitenworbis nursery, and the minister stressed that moist, mild conditions favor planting while protecting saplings from browsing remains critical.