Restore forests in the Meinweg after a major fire | Inland

According to the municipality, the fire has damaged 15 hectares of forest so badly that it must be restored. Many trees were immediately burned, others have lost their needles and leaves since the fire and die. In one part of the forest new trees will grow up on their own, but new plantings must be made elsewhere. To make this possible, sand must be uncovered, which is still covered with a thick layer of plant remains. Saplings cannot survive there. By working the land, the municipality and Staatsbosbeheer want to accelerate the new growth of pine and oak.

From August 17, all dead and dying conifers will be cut down and removed. Most deciduous trees survived the fire, so they can remain. The conifers are felled by a special harvester that removes the branches and cuts the trunk into pieces. The wood is used in construction.

During the work, the municipality and the Forestry Commission try to spare as much as possible bird of prey nests, trees in which woodpeckers nest, ant nests, burrows and rare flora.

The fire in April was so severe that the 4,200 inhabitants of the village of Herkenbosch, located near the Meinweg, had to be evacuated. This because they were at risk from smoke and carbon monoxide. They were not allowed to return home until two days later.

The enormous conflagration was fought by German and Dutch fire brigades. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

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