The majority of the deciduous forest area and a total of 14% of the total forest of the project area is covered with oak and oak-birch forests. These are almost entirely derived from the former coppice forest use ("Haubergswirtschaft"). Depending on the period of the last coppice harvest, these overgrown and abandoned former coppice stands have an age of between 50 and 130 years. The greatest threat to the oak stand and the oak stock comes from silvicultural methods that do not take into account the regeneration and replanting of the oak (Quercus petraea and Q. robur). A considerable part of the oak stands in Siegerland has already been replanted with Picea abies in the past and more recently with Pseudotsuga menziesii (understory and pre-planting). Re-establishment of oak stands or silviculture with the aim of oak regeneration (from stock cuttings and or initial planting) is hardly practiced at present. From an ecological point of view, oak-dominated forests are particularly important, especially for the preservation of the Middle-spotted Woodpecker. The promotion of old oaks and new oak generations is therefore considered as of great importance.

Progress of the measure:

The first measure in this regard will be an excursion with interested stakeholders to our LIFE-partner project "LIFE Villewälder"

However, the long-term preservation of oak forests, especially their regeneration to avoid a future age gap, depends on careful silvicultural management. This is to be achieved in the project with the methods of a silviculture close to the middle forest and initial measures. In addition to the targeted promotion of oak as a light tree species, the tree species diversity is to be increased with suitable accompanying tree species.

The silvicultural control of oak with light and shade (called "Femelhieb") promotes besides the establishment of the accompanying tree species in the second tree layer also the structural diversity in the stand. Emerging light shafts also ensure high bio-production, which is also due to the increased sunlight as well as the boundary line effect. In such light forests, habitat availability increases as well as arthropod availability.

The goal is the long-term establishment of a vertically richly structured stand with old oaks in the tree layer. In the future, utilization (especially of the accompanying tree species) can be initiated for firewood promotion.