Requesting in the Waldviertel: Students Plant Future for nature!

Requesting in the Waldviertel: Students Plant Future for nature!

Göpfritz, Niederösterreich, Österreich - The first reforestation project by Lavera Natural Cosmetics in Austria began on April 7, 2025. In cooperation with the International Environmental Foundation Lifeterra and the Austrian Organization Wald4leben, 500 climate -resistant trees have already been planted in the Waldviertel near Göpfritz, Lower Austria. The initiators received support from students from the region who were actively involved in the planting campaign. The reforestation measures are part of the reaction to the challenges that Austrian forests are currently experiencing by dryness and bark beetle attack.

The Lavera founder Thomas Haase had already launched the forest project in 2021, with the clear goal of contributing to the preservation of nature. So far, over 45,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in Germany, Italy and France. This is done as part of projects that combine environmental education with practical commitment to young people. Another goal of the project is to convert monocultures into healthy mixed forests and the support of the Karwendel nature park in Tyrol for the care of high alms. The project is financed by an amount of 10 cents per purchase of selected products from Lavera.

challenges for the forests

Austrian forests are not the only ones who suffer from the effects of climate change. The Harz National Park shows similar problems. There, dryness and bark beetle infestation lead to bare branches and dead trees. Sabine Bauling, forester and head of department for forest development and game population regulation in the national park, reports that despite the damage, fresh green, such as young spruces and shrubs, is also available. A study has also shown that the number of extinct plant species is higher than previously assumed, which underlines the urgency of reforestation projects in forests.

In 2018, the forests in the Harz National Park lost around 800 hectares of spruce forests by the rapid increase in the bark beetle, which took place in weakened spruces. The National Park pursues the goal of changing old Economic Forest. The bark beetle is considered a catalyst for natural forest development. Totholz remains in the national park to promote ecological balance.

research and future of the forests

The current challenges for forestry affect not only the above areas. Drought, storm events and pests that have been reinforced by climate change require new approaches to reforestation and forest care. Research projects, such as those at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of the Humboldt University in Berlin, aim to increase the vitality of trees through the combination of planting and seeds and to achieve a lower seed requirement.

The reforestation projects of Lavera in Austria and comparable initiatives in the Harz National Park as well as numerous research efforts show the high relevance and urgency that has reforestation and sustainable forest management - not only in connection with climate consequences, but also for the preservation of biodiversity in the forests.

For more information about the reforestation project of Lavera, please visit ots.at . Additional insights on the challenges in the Harz National Park can be found at sueddeutsche.de , and comprehensive information is on Wald.fnr.de