The content on this page was translated automatically.

12/11/2018

Research project in Waldau: 500 oaks for the forest of the future

@Green Office

What will the forest of the future look like? Which trees will adapt best to climate change? A research project is getting to the bottom of these questions on a trial field along the Wahlebachgrünzug in Waldau, which the city of Kassel has made available. City Planning Officer Christof Nolda, Prof. Oliver Gailing (University of Göttingen), Volker Lange (Environment and Garden Department) and Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey, President of the University of Kassel, presented the project to the public on December 6.

Image: Michael Schwab
Pleased about the further cooperation: (from left) Prof. Oliver Gailing (University of Göttingen), City Planning Officer Christof Nolda, Volker Lange (Environment and Garden Office) and Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey, President of the University of Kassel.

The Department of Forest Genetics and Forest Plant Breeding at the University of Göttingen is investigating the growth, vitality and other factors of each individual specimen on 500 young pedunculate, downy and sessile oaks and comparing the data with an identical plantation in Göttingen. High hopes are pinned on the downy oak in particular, as this tree, which originates from southern Europe, is very heat- and drought-resistant, but also significantly smaller than the native pedunculate oak.
"We are pleased to be able to contribute to this important research project," says a delighted Christof Nolda, the city's building inspector. "The knowledge gained from it is equally relevant for our urban area. We, too, are increasingly challenged by climate change when it comes to selecting suitable urban trees."

This project ties in with an old Waldau forestry tradition. After all, it is not by chance that the forest gives its name to this district of Kassel. In the past, the fertile soils surrounding the village of Waldau were covered by extensive, lush forests. For this reason, the "Forstlehranstalt zu Waldau" (Forestry School in Waldau) was located here from 1798 to 1815 to train future forestry officials and prepare them for an academic career. It was founded by Friedrich Ludwig von Witzleben (1755-1830), who published several books and treatises on forestry. The historical buildings of the forestry school are still preserved and are located in the center of Waldau in the street "Am Försterhof".