Project Description and Activities
The ‘Gudow Mill’ climate protection project borders the Hellbachtal nature reserve and is located in southwest Schleswig-Holstein, not far from Hamburg. The overarching goal of the project is to establish a multi-layered mixed forest on an area of 140 hectares. This will bind more than 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ over a period of 30 years.
This will be achieved through natural forest management. As part of the project activities, the natural regeneration of native deciduous tree species such as beech and sessile/English oak is specifically promoted. These measures are supplemented by planting and sowing. The newly introduced tree species primarily include Douglas fir, coastal fir and larch, but also deciduous tree species such as maple and red oak. As a result, the increased biodiversity and structural diversity make the forest more resistant to the consequences of climate change, such as storms, dry periods and beetle infestation.
Project activities
Impressions of the project
Why we need forest adaptation
Forest fires
Wind plays a decisive role in the development of forest fires. In row-planted monocultures, the wind can easily push the fire through the stand, which leads to a faster spread of forest fires.
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.
Impact of the project
Species distribution at project start
Number of main tree species
Biodiversity Index
Contribution to the UN SDGs
The Project Team
Christoph von Bülow
"Pina is supporting me in converting my forestry business from conventional management to a near-natural, climate-stable permanent forest."
Christoph von Bülow
Forest owner of the project Gudow Mill
Patrick Ibron
from Pina Earth is overseeing the project from the quantification and certification side. This includes, for example, simulating the forest's development over the next 30 years. Find out more here.
Project updates
2024-07-10
Successful Third-Party-Certification
Following a site visit in May 2024, the project has now been successfully audited and certified by TÜV Nord Cert in accordance with ISO 14064-2. The validation report has been submitted and the credits have been distributed and are therefore available immediately.
2024-05-22
Site visit by auditor
The site visit is part of the certification process at the beginning of the GHG project. Several stands were visited to verify the project's initial situation.
2024-04-28
Project visit by Pina Earth
In April 2024, Pina Earth visited the project area in person and took pictures and videos for the project documentation and marketing.
2024-04-03
Further Planting and Fence Construction
In the spring of 2024, over 4,500 trees were planted, including Grand Fir, beech, Norway maple, and Douglas Fir—four different tree species selected specifically for their positive ecological properties. Each species contributes in its own way to the stability and biodiversity of the forest.
To ensure the successful establishment of the young trees, protective fences were constructed in parallel. These fences help shield the newly planted seedlings from browsing by deer and other animals, as young shoots and tender bark are a highly sought-after food source. This protective measure ensures that the trees can grow undisturbed and develop into a resilient, species-rich forest in the long term.
2024-02-01
Planting
At the beginning of 2024, 500 Grand Firs were planted on the project site. This tree species was specifically chosen because it makes an important contribution to the long-term stability and diversity of the forest.
2022-01-01
Start of the project
The conversion of the areas was initiated at the beginning of 2022. The planned measures will be implemented over the next 30 years.