Harz

Descriptif

Forest in transition to wilderness in Harz National Park The look of the forests in the Harz Mountains has changed considerably in recent years. The grey silhouettes of dead spruce trees in the National Park tower into the sky or lie scattered across each other on the ground and by the roadsides. At first sight this seems strange to many people. But even though many dead trees are visible, this forest is as vibrant and dynamic as it has not been for a long time. Initiated by storms and a small insect benefitting from climate change – the European spruce bark beetle – a new wilderness is developing here: more species-rich, more versatile, and more robust. True to the National Park motto “Let nature be nature”, the flora and fauna in large parts of the National Park can develop freely, and we have a unique opportunity to observe it on its way from a former commercial forest to a wild natural forest.