At the invitation of the Greens, district forester Sebastian Bohne led a group of interested citizens through the Tangstedt Forest on October 19, 2024. This approximately 150-year-old forest, once reforested by Count Schimmelmann, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Originally a closed spruce forest, many trees suffered severe damage as a result of the 2018 drought and bark beetle infestation. Bohne, who has worked as a forester in the region for twelve years, led the group on a 2.5-kilometer tour of the area, explaining the challenges and developments that have shaped the forest in recent years. Since the time of initial reforestation, spruces and pines have dominated the Tangstedt Forest, which is particularly at risk from climate change. "The drought has taken a heavy toll on the trees," explained Bohne. "2018 was a catastrophic year. Many spruces have died due to the drought and the bark beetle.” Even before this turning point, Bohne and his team began planting new trees - including beech, oak and Douglas fir, but also birch, which settled on their own. These young trees are now clearly visible and have formed a dense, diverse forest over the past six years. The Douglas fir, a tree from North America, has also proven to be extremely robust. “It is not susceptible to the bark beetle and can withstand storms better than the spruce,” says Bohne. However, the Douglas fir also brings challenges. Since it does not occur naturally in northern Germany, it changes the local ecosystem. Bohne is aware of this: “The Douglas fir only fits in here to a small extent. But mixed with beech trees, for example, it offers a stable replacement for the spruce.” But the forest is more than just a collection of trees. The forester stressed the importance of nature conservation: “We have forest kindergartens here and offer people numerous hiking opportunities. The forest also fulfils an important social function.” In addition, biodiversity is being specifically promoted. Numerous different tree species such as beech, birch, rowan, oak and Douglas fir now grow on areas that were affected by the bark beetle. Bohne plans to promote oak in the future in order to give the forest more stability in the long term. A central theme of the walk was the handling of dead wood. “Many people find it untidy or unsightly when dead trees are left standing,” explained Bohne. But these so-called dead wood islands in particular are an important habitat for many birds, insects and other animals. “We are FSC-certified, which obliges us to leave such islands,” he added. The group was finally made aware of one of the largest areas that had been cleared by bark beetle infestation in recent years. Reforestation measures are already underway here. “We want to move away from spruce and towards oak. As soon as the tree nurseries supply enough material, we will plant mainly oak trees here." The walk ended with a look into the future: "The forest is constantly in motion," emphasized Bohne. "We are currently experiencing the transition from the second to the third generation of forest. In ten years we will be standing here in the shade of young trees." These words underlined that the forest is subject to continuous change - and that the foresters are ready to face these challenges. This also includes adapting or closing paths from time to time to give animals such as the eagle owl, badger and deer areas where there is no constant disturbance from people. For the citizens of Tangstedt, the walk was a valuable opportunity to experience the transformation of the forest up close and to understand the complex processes behind the changes. Bohne's open and pragmatic view of the state of the forest and his vision for the future was particularly impressive: a forest that emerges from the crisis stronger and is preserved for future generations. And a final note to all visitors: Dear dog owners, please take the poop bags home with you. Our forest is a natural area and wastepaper baskets do not belong here. Dear riders, we ask you to stay on the signposted riding trails.