Communal forest
The municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz covers a forest area of approx. 1,500 ha. The largest part of this, approx. 930 ha, belongs to the "Zeisigwald" district in Chemnitz and the surrounding area.
Significant communal forest areas within the city area:
- Alte Harth
- Crimmitschau Forest
- Ebersdorf Forest
- Glösa Forest
- Hut wood
- Fast market
- Sechsruthen
- Zoo
- Zeisig forest
Outside the city area in the Erzgebirgskreis and Mittelsachsen are the forest areas of the "Saidenbach" district, which comprises approx. 570 hectares of forest.
Overview
The Chemnitz municipal forest is one of the longest established municipal forestry operations in the Free State of Saxony (Sächsische Landesanstalt für Forsten 1995). The Ratswald (today's Zeisigwald) was probably assigned to the city when it was founded in the 12th century. A "Krimnitzer" forest, today's Crimmitschau Forest, the spelling of which changed several times over the course of time, is mentioned as belonging to the town around 1544 (Schöpe 1989). The other parts of the forest only came into the possession of the town later. As early as the 15th and 16th centuries, the wood supplied by the municipal forests was not enough to meet the town's building and firewood needs. Concerns about a shortage of timber prompted the town to become intensively involved with silvicultural problems. The first independent work on forestry, Sylvicultura oeconomica, was published in 1713. The author Hans Karl von Carlowitz, who was born at Rabenstein Castle, is regarded as the main creator of the concept of forest sustainability. In his work, he deals intensively with conifer seeding, among other things.
In 1828, the city council of Chemnitz authorised Hans Ernst von Mannteufel to make the council forest the subject of his forest master's trial work. He arranged for a new survey of the city's forests, prepared special descriptions and overviews of the yields to be expected in the following decades as well as the necessary felling and cultivation. At that time, the municipal forest had a timber land area of 214.7 hectares, over 76% of which was occupied by conifers. In 1847/48, the municipal forests were surveyed and assessed by municipal forester Menges. He drew up a new network of divisions, as the divisions set up by v. Mannteufel had proved to be too large. In the economic period from 1859 to 1868, the proportion of conifers reached its maximum at over 95%. According to Schöpe 1989, the following economic period from 1869 to 1878 saw the first significant damage caused by smoke fumes in the urban forests. Since then, smoke-damaged spruce stands have been replaced by deciduous trees. The hardwood area increased from just under 3 ha in 1869 to over 44 ha in 1889, and not only native deciduous tree species were planted, but also red oak (see section 1.3.4). Insect damage had also increased. In the valuation revision in 1888, the council forester Schier (Menge's successor since 1883) addressed the consequences of the smoke damage with regard to the future structure of the municipal forests: "... An inspection of the forest stands proves at first glance that the quality of the Chemnitz city forest has deteriorated as a result of the calamity caused by the smoke damage, with its secondary consequencesconsequences - as beetle damage, soil overgrowth - is in a constant and rapid decline ... It will be necessary to increase the area of hardwood from decade to decade. ...".
This situation also prompted the town council to introduce new forms of utilisation in some sections of the municipal forest. A playground was built in the Zeisigwald in 1895/96 and a municipal swimming pool in the following years. In 1900, it was decided to convert the entire Küchwald forest into a forest park and to transfer it to the garden administration. In the Chemnitz city forest, as in other forests near industrial centres, the recreational function was gradually given priority (Schöpe 1989).
Due to the increasing demand for drinking water in the city of Chemnitz, planning for the Saidenbach dam began in 1912 despite the commissioning of the Einsiedel dam in 1894 and the Neunzehnhain I and II dams (1908 and 1914). From 1912 to 1933, the town acquired around 1100 hectares of land in the Saidenbach valley and its tributaries. This included many forest areas such as the Saidenholz, which now formed the Forchheim municipal district. In 1933, it reached a size of well over 500 hectares. It consisted of approx. 86 % spruce, 9 % beech, 4 % other hardwoods and around 1 % pine (Autorenkollektiv, 1933). The harsh winter of 1928/29 with its drinking water shortage accelerated the start of construction. The construction of the dam from 1929 to 1933 resulted in a large loss of forest area, which was to be compensated for by extensive reforestation and afforestation by the Reich Labour Service with the main objective of drinking water protection. This explains the shift in the age class ratio in favour of stands under 20 years of age at this time, which can still be seen in today's age structure (see Chapter 1.3.4).
In 1949, the forest property of the city of Chemnitz was also declared public property and came under the legal ownership of the State Forestry Enterprises (StFB) in 1952. The areas close to the city were assigned to the StFB Flöha, the forests around the Saidenbach dam to the StFB Marienberg. After intensive negotiations with state authorities, justified by the city council with the special recreational function, individual parts of the forest were transferred back to the legal ownership of the city of Chemnitz. A special district was set up at the Burgstädt head forester's office of the Flöha forestry department, to which the municipal areas were assigned. Management was carried out by an employee of the city administration (Kupfer 1994). After German reunification, the city of Chemnitz was given back its forest property on the basis of its applications for restitution. The Chemnitz municipal forest, which had not existed as such for almost 5 decades, was newly established between November 1995 and March 1996 by the Saxon State Institute for Forestry, Forest Planning Division, with a total operating area of 1,308 ha as of 1 January 1995 (Kupfer 2004). The subsequent establishment on 1 January 2005 by the State Forestry Presidium, Forest Planning Department expires at the end of 2014.
The Saidenbach dam, including the protection strip, was, like the Neunzehnhain I dam, tunnel systems and other areas, established on the basis of the Unification Treaty. areas, were retroactively assigned to the State Dam Administration of the Free State of Saxony on the basis of the Unification Treaty by means of an asset allocation agreement dated 10 November 2003 and an asset allocation decision dated 20 February 2004.
Schöpe (1989) contains a comprehensive historical treatise on the Chemnitz city forest up to the end of the 19th century, which concerns today's Zeisigwald district. Interesting details about the creation of the Saidenbach dam and the Forchheim district (Forchheim waterworks forest), today's Saidenbach district, can be found in the commemorative publication on the inauguration of the dam (author's collective, 1933). The first source is contained in full in Appendix 8.3, the second source in extracts in Appendix 8.4 of the 1995-2004 forest management plan (Sächsische Landesanstalt für Forsten 1995). Appendix 8.1 of the 1995-2004 forest management plan also contains chronological overviews of the history of the two municipal forest districts.
In accordance with § 10 of the Ordinance on Private and Corporate Forests (SächsPKWaldVO, legally amended as of 1 January 2006), the City of Chemnitz defines the long-term economic objectives in a strategic operating concept in consultation with the state enterprise Sachsenforst. This strategic operational concept is the basis for periodic operational planning (forest organisation).
The main long-term economic objectives in the communal forest are
- The sustainable safeguarding of all forest functions (utilisation, protection and recreation functions) as the most important task of forestry operations, whereby as a rule all functions are to be fulfilled simultaneously, but with different weightings:
- The forests in the Chemnitz conurbation are to be preserved and organised as a recreational area for the population through air pollution control, climate and noise protection.
- The forests around the Saidenbach dam are primarily intended to safeguard the water supply and quality in the catchment area of the dam.
- Particularly in the FNDs and FFH areas, nature conservation aspects such as species protection and, in some cases, process protection have priority.
- In order to ensure high social and ecological standards and transparency through independent, annual audits, the City of Chemnitz continues to manage its forests in accordance with the criteria of the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council® 2012).
- Stands threatened by the predicted climate change are to be successively adapted to the changing site conditions. Where available, suitable, site-appropriate natural regeneration is to be included and the introduction of foreign tree species is to be avoided.
- The management of the forest areas should contribute to positively influencing the regional labour market. In addition to employing a district forester and three municipal forestry workers, there is the possibility of contracting out operational work to forestry service companies in the region in order to secure the existence of the operations and employees.
- Economical, demand-orientated and regional production of the renewable and ecologically beneficial raw material wood.
- Increasing the forest area, especially in urban areas
The following medium-term operating targets are derived from the long-term economic targets:
1 Forest functions, protected areas
- The 3 FSC® natural forest development areas (formerly known as reference areas) in Crimmitschau Forest, Zeisigwald and Stärkerwald (see information document I-062/2014) will be retained.
- Biotope trees (e.g. hollow trees, nest trees, trees with lightning channels or similar, deciduous trees occurring sporadically in coniferous stands, over-strong trees) will remain in the forest until decomposition. In the long term, the aim is to achieve an average of 10 biotope trees per hectare (FSC® standard 3.0; criterion 6.6.5). The marked biotope trees in the Zeisigwald district (e.g. Ebersdorfer Wald, Schneller Markt, Zeisigwald) will be left in place, even beyond the earmarking period (10 years) required for funding.
- Schematic regeneration methods such as clear-cutting (> 0.3 ha) are generally avoided (FSC® standard 10.1.1).
- In the natural monuments, interventions are generally only carried out on the tree species spruce, white fir, red oak, hybrid poplar, grey alder and black locust. In the case of native deciduous tree species that are suitable for the location, felling is to be limited to measures required for traffic safety. The measures in the FNDs agreed with Office 36 (UNB) on 3 April 2014 and 22 May 2014 must be complied with.
- The proportion of red oaks should also be reduced outside the FND in the medium and long term. This also requires a mixture regulation in the understorey, which generally has to be carried out in the leafy state.
- Common spruce and grey alder will continue to be pushed back along streams and rivers and replaced with initial plantings of tree species such as red alder.
- During the bird breeding and rearing season (1 March to 31 August each year), scheduled timber harvesting (including timber removal from the forest area by private firewood customers - so-called "self-cutters") in all forests in the city of Chemnitz must be discontinued. This does not apply to traffic safety measures. Exceptions are possible in the case of exceptional events (e.g. wind breakage or bark beetle infestation). From mid-June onwards, young growth and young stand maintenance without timber utilisation is possible.
- Creation of recreational areas by, among other things, maintaining a network of appropriately signposted, well-maintained hiking, cycling and bridle paths, the moderate provision of recreational facilities (benches with litter bins, information boards, etc.) and the targeted preservation of prominent trees.
- Other important operational objectives include environmental education through forest education programmes such as the forest youth games, forest tours and litter collection campaigns with children and young people, as well as public relations work via press releases, newspaper articles, town council enquiries and similar. The aim is to achieve a broad identification of the local population with their municipal forest and its protection, but also its management.
2 Stand management and harvesting
- Great restraint is advised in the care of young growth under canopies for all tree species. Targeted interventions in the overstorey and utilisation of the partial shade should be used to exploit its differentiating effect. There is a need for action if spruce is crowding out cultivated European beech or silver fir or if dense natural spruce regeneration is preventing or crowding out the natural regeneration of mixed tree species.
- Production periods (rotation periods) and target diameters are based on those of the state forest (Landesforstpräsidium 2005 b): for Norway spruce approx. 80-100 years (>40 cm), for European beech approx. 140 years (>60 cm), for pedunculate oak approx. 180 years (>60 cm) with the aim of producing valuable timber.
- Femel felling is preferred for harvesting. It should be understood as the removal of trees individually or in groups, unevenly distributed across the stand, to prepare or promote existing regeneration and contribute to the overall structuring of the stands (creation of horizontally and vertically structured, uneven-aged stands). This also includes greater utilisation above existing regeneration in the sense of femel-edge felling.
3 Rejuvenation
- The proportion of spruce must be further reduced, especially in the Zeisigwald district, but also in the Saidenbach district in the medium to long term due to the predicted climate change. Depending on the location and altitude, the stands should be rejuvenated with deciduous tree species such as lime, hornbeam, sessile and pedunculate oak, sycamore, copper beech and silver fir. Ash and Douglas fir will not be planted due to ash dieback and Douglas fir blight. In general, the gradual adaptation of the stands to climate change will initially take place without foreign tree species.
- Natural regeneration should be the primary regeneration method, provided it corresponds to the target tree species and quality. The introduction of mixed tree species usually takes place via pre-cultivation.
- The aim is to achieve forest-compatible game densities with great hunting commitment so that as few artificial regeneration areas as possible need to be fenced.
- On succession areas that are already overgrown with bushes or on which a forest has already formed (e.g. Borna Lungenheilstätte district and Hilbersdorf district "behind the veterinary clinic"), the aim is to establish a climax deciduous forest community in the long term.
4 Forest development
- The existing old tracks used by forestry tractors will continue to be used as far as possible and marked in green. The average distance between skid trails should not be less than 40 metres, so that no more than 10% of the managed timber ground area is used (FSC standard 3.0, criterion 10.10.6)
- In the area of primary forest development, it is not necessary to extend the network of logging roads. The existing logging roads are maintained and only extended if absolutely necessary.
5 Business organisation, business objectives
- The district structure has proved its worth and should remain as it is. Area additions were sensibly integrated into the existing network of departments in consultation with the district manager. No renumbering of departments and subdivisions has taken place.
- The operational work involved in mechanical timber harvesting, logging and road construction is carried out by contractors due to the lack of specialised technology. The three municipal forestry workers are mainly used for planting, young growth and young stand maintenance, traffic safety measures, path maintenance, measures necessary for nature conservation in the FNDs, waste disposal and similar. Firewood is only harvested by customers themselves from trees that have already been felled.
- In the Zeisigwald district, the focus is on the maintenance and thinning of the outer edges of the forest near residential buildings, allotments, motorways, railway lines, public paths and roads with a total length of approx. 51 km. In many places, the first 1-2 rows of trees have to be cut back and this strip has to be designed as coppice forest or as a forest edge with shrubs. The edge trees, in particular the heliotrophically growing red oak, must be specially secured during felling. On the one hand, this entails high costs. On the other hand, the edge trees do not achieve the assortment and quality structure of the remaining stock. As a result, the higher proportion of wood from forest edges must be taken into account in the cost/revenue planning in the Zeisigwald district.
- Overall, expenditure and revenue should be weighed up in such a way that an acceptable operating result with the highest possible cost recovery is achieved.
The municipal forest of the City of Chemnitz has been FSC®-certified since 22 October 2002 (licence code: FSC® C002730). With resolution B-393/2001 of the Planning, Transport and Environment Committee of the City Council, it was unanimously decided on 28 August 2001 that the City of Chemnitz would apply for certification of the management of the municipal forest in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). The FSC® is an international, non-profit organisation that is committed to the environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable management of the world's forests. The aim is to safeguard the forest as an ecosystem while ensuring the long-term utilisation of wood. The strength of FSC® certification lies in the independent assessment and control of forest owners and the internationally standardised testing system. The FSC® is the forest certification system most widely recognised by environmental associations. Since 2002, the municipal forest has been audited annually by an FSC®-accredited certification body and has already been recertified three times.
One component of the certification is the so-called natural forest development areas (formerly known as reference areas), which are no longer utilised in order to allow the forest to develop without human influence.
Latest news
December 2024: Capital of Culture and "Living Neighbourhood" also in the forest
As part of the Capital of Culture project GELEBTE NACHBARSCHAFT, the City of Chemnitz Green Space Office and the Chemnitz-Nord Citizens' Platform are organising a planting campaign in the Glösa Forest. Former spruce areas that have died due to drought and bark beetle infestation are to be planted with relatively small (bare-rooted) forest plants (pedunculate oak, hornbeam, winter lime, field maple, bird cherry, etc.).
Participants in the tree planting campaign should wear weatherproof clothing and bring work gloves. The Parks Department will provide the necessary planting equipment and materials and will be on site with several employees.
Date:
Saturday, 23 November 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon
In November 2024, 3 planting campaigns took place with citizens in the municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz, in which a total of around 850 trees of 11 different species were planted. It began with a campaign on 16.11.2024 in Rödelwald, which was organised by the Parks Department together with the Klaffenbach local council. 19 participants had registered and most of them travelled to the Rödelwald forest on foot in perfect weather. The approx. 0.2 ha area prepared by the municipal foresters and fenced off against game browsing was planted faster than expected. Over coffee, tea and biscuits, the people of Klaffenbach got to talk to the staff of the Parks Department and to each other and got to know each other as friendly neighbours.
On Saturday, 23 November, a planting campaign was planned in the Glösa forest together with the Chemnitz-Nord citizens' platform. The initially frosty weather caused us to worry whether the event would be able to take place. But the forest floor was still as soft as butter. The sunshine and the wafer-thin blanket of snow delighted all participants and made the planting campaign a pleasant forest experience. Even the Freie Presse accompanied the work, collected a lot of information, took several photos and compiled an informative and very appealing article. Of course, this meeting also ended with a small snack and lively discussions. The delicious sandwiches served by Kerstin Pätzold were a feast for the eyes and tasted particularly good after a day's work in the fresh forest air.
Last but not least, the LIONS CLUB Chemnitz Wasserschloß Klaffenbach e.V. donated its labour in the Alte Harth forest area on Wednesday 27 November to reforest an area of former spruce trees that had died due to bark beetle infestation with young deciduous trees. Alexander Dierks, President of the State Parliament and member of the LIONS Board, was keen to take part and showed his full commitment.
All the trees had already been properly watered by the overnight rain. The course of the weather again this year encourages us to continue planting in autumn although the "bare-root" small forest plants are usually not delivered by the tree nurseries before mid-November due to the late leaf fall. We would like to thank all the hard-working helpers and will not forget their commitment and enthusiasm.
November 2024: Tree planting campaign in Glösa Forest on 23 November
November 2024: Tree planting campaign in Glösa Forest on 23 November
As part of the Capital of Culture project GELEBTE NACHBARSCHAFT, the City of Chemnitz Green Space Office and the Chemnitz-Nord Citizens' Platform are organising a planting campaign in the Glösa Forest. Former spruce areas that have died due to drought and bark beetle infestation are to be planted with relatively small (bare-rooted) forest plants (pedunculate oak, hornbeam, winter lime, field maple, bird cherry, etc.).
Participants in the tree planting campaign should wear weatherproof clothing and bring work gloves. The Parks Department will provide the necessary planting equipment and materials and will be on site with several employees.
Date:
Saturday, 23 November 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon
Tree planting campaign in Rödelwald Klaffenbach on 16 November
As part of the Capital of Culture project GELEBTE NACHBARSCHAFT, the City of Chemnitz Parks Department and the Klaffenbach local council are inviting people to a planting campaign in the Rödelwald forest. Former spruce areas that have died due to drought and bark beetle infestation are to be planted with relatively small (bare-rooted) forest plants (sessile oak, hornbeam, winter lime, mountain elm, bird cherry, etc.).
Participants in the tree planting campaign should dress for the weather and bring work gloves. The Parks Department will provide the necessary planting equipment and materials and will be on site with several employees.
Date:
Saturday, 16 November 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon
September 2024: Forest maintenance work and purchase of firewood licences
The majority of the felling will again be carried out by Saxon forestry companies - who are bound by contract and instructed by the municipal district manager - mainly by machine. The respective forest areas and forest paths are closed during the work! There is a danger to life!
All forest visitors must take into account that for safety reasons, forest areas and forest paths are temporarily closed to passers-by for the duration of the felling and timber processing. The barriers must be observed and may not be altered.
Purchase firewood licences or order firewood from the forest ranger:
From September 2024 to mid-February 2025, it will be possible to purchase a firewood licence from the district forester Mr Weisbrich in person.
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Forest tour on 16 September, 3 pm
All interested citizens are invited to a guided tour of the forest on Monday, 16 September 2024 at 3.30 pm.
The meeting point is at Hutholz, at the entrance to the forest where Markersdorfer Straße branches off from Wolgograder Allee to Neukirchen.
The reason for the tour is the Capital of Culture project "Living Neighbourhood" and the presentation of the scheduled start of felling and forest maintenance work in the municipal forests of the city of Chemnitz from the end of September. During the walk through the forest, Andreas Streich, head of the green space maintenance/forestry department, and forester Jörg Weisbrich will provide information on the impact of the bark beetle calamity, forest management, the requirements of FSC® certification and the effects of forest management on the development of the forest over the next few years. Of course, you are also welcome to ask questions.
September 2023: Guided tour through the Sechsruthenwald forest on 5 October
On Thursday, 5 October at 3.30 pm, the City of Chemnitz Parks Department invites interested parties to a guided tour of the Sechsruthenwald. Participation is free of charge. The meeting point is at the corner of Corinthstraße and Grenzsteig at the entrance to the Sechsruthenwald. The nearest public transport stop (bus route 63) "Corinthstraße" is only approx. 300 metres away. Car parking spaces are also available.
During the guided tour, the scheduled felling and forest maintenance work in the municipal forests of the city of Chemnitz will be presented, starting at the end of September. During the walk through the forest, Andreas Streich, head of the green space maintenance/forestry department, and district forester Jörg Weisbrich will also provide information on the effects of the bark beetle infestation, on the upcoming forest organisation as well as on the requirements of FSC® certification and the effects of forest maintenance on the development of the forest in the coming years.
Logging and forest maintenance work begins / Purchase of firewood licences
From September 2023 until the end of March 2024, the City of Chemnitz Green Spaces Department is once again planning urgent felling and forest maintenance work as well as road safety measures on roads and property boundaries. The reason for this is that the bark beetle infestation is continuing to kill off the spruce stands and will soon have reached the last old spruce trees in the municipal forest. Regrettably, many old beech trees and other deciduous tree species are also showing signs of drought damage or even dying.
Depending on the weather, work will be carried out in the following parts of the forest: Glösaer Wald, Ebersdorfer Wald, Zeisigwald, Wasserwerkspark, Grenzbach Erfenschlag, Pfarrhübel, Eibenberger Allee, Fischzuchtgrund, Mühlberg in Einsiedel, Alte Harth, Lärchenallee Dittersdorf, Rödelwald, Tiergarten, Hutholz, Neustädter Wald (FS 119/4 district of Neustadt), initial afforestation in Oberrabenstein on Oberfohnaer Straße and Hoppbergblick, Crimmitschauer Wald, Heilstättenwald and Sechsruthen.
The respective forest areas and forest paths are closed during the work. Caution: There is a danger to life!
Purchase firewood licences or order firewood from the district forester
Until mid-February 2024, it is possible to purchase a firewood licence in person from the district forester Jörg Weisbrich.
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May 2023: 322 kilometres of marked hiking trails invite you to explore
A total of 322 kilometres of marked hiking trails run through Chemnitz and the surrounding area, spread over 22 paths. From short circular hiking trails such as the Hirschfänger circular trail in Grüna (2.6 km) and the Sternmühle circular trail (4.6 km), to very extensive circular hiking trails such as the circular trail around Chemnitz (59 km) and connecting trails such as the Altchemnitz - Altenhain hiking trail (12.4 km), to long-distance hiking trails such as the Ostsee-Saal-Saalperren long-distance hiking trail. Altenhain (12.4 km) to long-distance hiking trails such as the Ostsee-Saaletalsperren long-distance hiking trail, which runs 16.1 kilometres through Chemnitz.
Capital of Culture projects have added further trails such as the Lohse-Uhlig-Steig (16.9 km) through Kleinolbersdorf and Altenhain and the Höhenweg between Harthau and Adelsberg.
Just in time for "Hiking Day", which is celebrated annually on 14 May, all of Chemnitz's marked hiking trails can be found on the city's own online city map. This was a joint effort by the volunteer hiking trail wardens, the Parks Department and the Information Processing Office.
To see the hiking trails, open the "content tree" at the bottom left. The hiking trails can then be made visible under "Leisure".
Have fun exploring the beautiful Chemnitz region!
November 2022: The Chemnitz forest is suffering
Around 1500 hectares are maintained and managed by the city of Chemnitz as so-called communal forest. In addition to Zeisigwald and Crimmitschauer Wald, this also includes the forest at Tiergarten in Klaffenbach. The head of the green space maintenance and forestry department, Andreas Streich, paints a dramatic picture. What to do with the problem child spruce? Can renaturalisation succeed in the long term?
October 2022: Urgent forest maintenance work and extensive felling required
From October 2022 to the end of March 2023, urgent forest maintenance work, the felling of trees damaged by bark beetles or already dead trees and road safety measures on roads and property boundaries will take place in the city's own forests.
The following forest areas are affected:
Tiergarten, Hutholz, Neustädter Wald, Erstaufforstung an Oberfrohnaer Straße, Galgenberg, Crimmitschauer Wald, Heilstättenwald, Sechsruthen, Glösaer Wald, Ebersdorfer Wald, Schneller Markt, Grenzbach Erfenschlag, Pfarrhübel, Mühlberg in Einsiedel, Eibenberger Allee
The felling will once again be carried out by Saxon forestry companies, which are bound by contract and instructed by the municipal forestry manager, mainly by machine.
The respective forest areas and forest paths are closed during the work! There is a danger to life!
All forest visitors must take into account that forest areas and forest paths are temporarily closed to passers-by for safety reasons for the duration of the felling and timber processing (based on the Saxon Forest Act, § 11, paragraph 3). Please pay attention to barriers and do not change them! Wooden poles must not be stepped on or climbed on! Logs could start rolling and cause serious accidents. Please instruct your children and grandchildren in particular about this
The raw timber is processed into various assortments and temporarily stored on forest roads accessible to lorries. This may cause disruption to the forest roads. Once the timber has been removed, the roads are repaired. This also depends on the weather and experience has shown that it will take around four months to complete.
October 2021: Forests temporarily closed due to felling of damaged timber
On Monday, 11 October, logging will begin in the municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz. The reason for this is the infestation by the bark beetle, as well as traffic safety measures on roads and property boundaries and the maintenance of some young stands. Forest areas and forest roads are closed during the work. There is a danger to life.
The following forest areas are affected: Sechsruthen, Glösaer Wald, Heilstättenwald, Crimmitschauer Wald, first afforestation in Oberrabenstein, Tiergarten, Rödelwald, Alte Harth, Pfarrhübel, Fischzuchtgrund and Mühlberg in Einsiedel, Lärchenallee in Dittersdorf and the Hutholz. Saxon forestry companies, which are instructed by the municipal district manager, are mainly deployed with machines.
August 2021: Nocturnal hunters in the Stärkerwald forest between Reichenbrand and Neukirchen
Near-natural forest development has positive effects for many animal species that benefit from old trees: After six bat species had already been detected in the Stärkerwald forest in 2016 during net trapping, another recording campaign took place one night in July.
This time, the trappers came across seven species, which they caught and subsequently ringed. Four of these species had not yet been recorded in 2016. This means that ten bat species have now been recorded in the Stärkerwald forest.
All bat species in Germany are endangered to a greater or lesser extent and are subject to strict legal protection. This is because their food source - insects - and suitable hiding places and resting places are becoming rarer. Structurally rich forests with ponds, neighbouring grassland and gardens, as is the case with the Stärkerwald, offer bats an ideal habitat.
September 2020: Bark beetle - further tree felling necessary
The spread of the bark beetle infestation continues to progress rapidly. For this reason, the affected spruce trees will need to be felled from October 2020 to April 2021. In addition, traffic safety measures (VKS) are planned on roads and property boundaries, including the removal of broken wood from recent storms, as well as the maintenance of some young stands in the municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz.
These felling operations are mainly carried out mechanically by contracted forestry companies, which are instructed by the city's district manager.
The forest areas and forest roads are closed during the work. There is a danger to life.
Purchase of firewood licences from the district forester:
From September to February, citizens who would like to use the environmentally friendly fuel wood have the opportunity to purchase a firewood licence in person from the district forester Jörg Weisbrich. Appointments can be made by telephone on 01511 4035817.
The firewood licence, which is valid for one week and must be carried when collecting, is issued for the purchase of a minimum quantity of three cubic metres. One cubic metre costs 17 euros. A chainsaw licence is required to process the wood with a chainsaw in the forest.
Anyone wishing to purchase two metres of ready-to-cut firewood (minimum quantity five cubic metres) should call 0371 488 6755 or email Kommunalwald(at)stadt-chemnitz.de. Home delivery is also possible for quantities of ten cubic metres or more.
July 2020: What's that flying?
If at all, we only notice them as silent shadows when they scurry past us in the dark on their hunt for insects. There is no chance of recognising which species they are. As a bat researcher, you also have to work late in the evening and at night - just like Elke & Reimund Francke from Chemnitz and Joachim Frömert from Hohenstein-Ernstthal.
This is the second time the bat experts have investigated which species of these flying mammals can be found in Crimmitschau Forest. The green spaces department and the lower nature conservation authority of the city of Chemnitz are providing personnel and financial support for these bat surveys. Using hair-thin, elastic nets, a total of 77 animals were caught, measured, ringed and released back into the wild on a July night in 2019 and 2020.
It was found that 13 of the 22 bat species found in Saxony use the Crimmitschau Forest for foraging. These included more common species such as the water bat and the brown long-eared bat as well as rarer species such as the pug bat. The latter two species even have nursery roosts in Crimmitschau Forest. One of the smallest bat species, the pipistrelle bat, has also been recorded. It weighs just a few grams and fits into a matchbox. In contrast, the common noctule bat, with a wingspan of up to 40 cm, is more conspicuous in the night sky.
By the way, nursery roosts are places where pregnant female bats come together, give birth to their young and nurse them. While the mothers leave the roosts to go hunting in the evening or at night, the young stay behind in the nursery roost and keep each other warm.
Depending on the bat species, nursery roosts can be located in tree hollows, behind protruding bark of dead trees, in roof trusses or in cracks in walls. Only known roosts can be consciously protected. This is how bat research contributes to species conservation. This is because all bat species in Germany are endangered to a greater or lesser extent and are subject to strict legal protection. This is due to the fact that their food source, insects, and suitable roosts, i.e. hiding places and resting areas, are dwindling. Structurally rich forests with ponds, neighbouring grassland and gardens offer bats an ideal habitat.
May 2020: White woodpeckers sighted!
There are not only black woodpeckers, green woodpeckers and great spotted woodpeckers. If you are currently wandering through the Ebersdorf forest and the Kohlung, you may have already seen them: White woodpeckers that have been sprayed on trees. This is part of the implementation of the biotope and deadwood concept of the municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz.
The biotope tree islands were marked with white woodpeckers on the edge trees. These are forest stands that are no longer regularly managed, but in which the trees are allowed to reach their natural age and are then left to decompose naturally. If a tree actually has to be felled due to traffic safety measures, it remains as lying deadwood. For example, 5 biotope tree islands totalling 4.7 hectares have been designated in Ebersdorf Forest and Kohlung. Biotope tree islands will also gradually be marked out in the other communal forest areas. The fact that some forest stands are allowed to grow as old as possible contributes above all to species protection. Old trees with hollows, cracks, broken branches etc. provide a habitat for a wide variety of animals. Cavity-nesting birds use the tree cavities made by woodpeckers. Many specialised insect species, many of which have become rare today, develop in rotten wood. For example, around 60 % of beetle species living in dead wood are already endangered in Germany. Similarly, many of the fungi, mosses and lichens that specialise in old and dead wood have become very rare in managed forests.
Decisive for a large variety of species in the forest is not only a sufficient amount of dead wood, but also enough thick dead wood, which decomposes only slowly. The designation of the biotope tree islands is one of 70 criteria to fulfil the strict FSC® standard version 3.0 and ensure sustainability in the Chemnitz city forest.
June 2019: Jan Petzold wins the German Forestry Work Championships
The joy of his victory is written all over Jan Petzold's face. At the 14th German Forestry Work Championships in Hanover, he leaves all his competitors behind in the "combination cutting" discipline. He also beat the 2018 world champion in this discipline. Jan Petzold, who has worked as a forester in the municipal forest of the city of Chemnitz since 1990, is also the best Saxon in the overall standings at this year's German Championships.
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March 2019: Price for spruce firewood as low as never before
The bark beetle continues to cause problems in Chemnitz's municipal forests.
The spruce trees, weakened by the 2018 summer drought and damaged by storms Herwart, Friederike and Eberhardt, are unable to withstand the onslaught of beetles in many places and die individually, in groups or even over large areas.
This leads to low prices for spruce firewood. Firewood customers can take advantage of this and stock up on very inexpensive spruce cuttings (2 metres long) now. One cubic metre costs 20 euros including VAT. After payment, you can collect it yourself from the forest. From a quantity of 10 cubic metres, home delivery is also possible for a fee.
We will be happy to take your orders on 0371-488 6752.
August 2018: Ecological forest conversion in municipal forests receives EU funding
One of the main aims of the Parks Department is to gradually adapt the forest stands to the predicted climate changes. Funding has been approved by the state-owned company Sachsenforst for both areas. The projects are being implemented as part of the Rural Development Programme for the Free State of Saxony (EPLR) 2014-2020 and co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).