Project Description and Activities
The ‘Benfe’ project is located in one of the most forested areas of Germany, in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein, North Rhine-Westphalia. The total project area covers 50 hectares, spread across 10 adjoining sections.
By implementing measures such as planting a variety of site-appropriate tree species, promoting natural regeneration, and managing competition among plants, the forest will become richer in both structure and biodiversity. These efforts will also make the forest more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change, such as storms, drought and beetle infestation.
The forest transformation measures carried out in the ‘Benfe’ project are essential for the health and stability of the ecosystem. Tree species like alder, moor birch, and silver birch will be planted to enhance the forest's resilience to climate change.
Project activities
Impressions of the project
Why we need forest adaptation
Storms
Forest areas with many tall and thin trees are more susceptible to storm damage (so-called windthrow). If, in addition, most of the trees in a section of forest are the same height, storms can lead to the loss of entire forest sections.
Beetle infestation
Prolonged drought weakens trees, which can then no longer adequately protect themselves against bark beetles and other infestations. As the trees are close together, a beetle infestation can easily spread to the entire forest and destroy large areas of it.
The Project Team
eva foundation
is the NGO that developed the leading scientifically sound, digital and scalable standard for certified climate projects in Europe.
Klaus-Uwe Daum
as forester is responsible for the silvicultural measures in the Benfe project area. He is experienced in dealing with calamity areas, and the conversion of spruce stands into climate-resilient mixed stands.
Project updates
2023-12-20
Successful Third-Party-Certification
Following a site visit in September 2023, the project has now been successfully audited and certified by TÜV Nord Cert in accordance with the 'Waldklimastandard' (WKS). The validation report has been submitted and the credits have been distributed and are therefore available immediately.
2022-04-25
Project start
The forest restoration project starts. The aim of the project is to create a diverse and structurally diverse forest that is resilient to the consequences of climate change.