Overview

• Agriculture Minister Werner Schwarz visited the planting site in early August and said the new forest is “an indispensable partner in water protection.”
• Over 15,000 saplings of ten deciduous species were planted this spring on more than four hectares of converted farmland in the Hüttener Bergen.
• The mix of sycamore maple, cherry, oak, service tree and other broadleaf varieties is intended to trap excess nitrogen and phosphorus before they reach the Baltic Sea.
• Initial observations indicate healthy tree growth with significant carbon sequestration and enhanced soil water storage under heavy rain.
• The project now enters a monitoring phase to evaluate its effectiveness in cutting nutrient runoff via the Hüttener Au into the Baltic Sea.