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New glimmer of hope: millions of trees are bringing the Harz back!
Goslar: The Harz National Park is recovering with millions of new deciduous trees after the loss of spruce trees due to drought and pests.
New glimmer of hope: millions of trees are bringing the Harz back!
Something is happening in the Harz – and not too short! In recent years, reforestation in the Harz National Park has gained momentum. Today, October 18, 2025, it is clear that millions of new trees provide hope for the region's recovery. The situation here has changed significantly since 2018: Over 11,600 hectares of spruce forest are doomed to extinction due to drought, bark beetles and violent storms. Around 90 percent of the once lush spruce population has died. However, as NDR reports, reforestation is showing encouraging progress.
What makes green so special? A quarter of the national park has been declared a natural development zone - here nature is promoted in its capacity as a self-regulator. This also includes the motto of the national parks: “Let nature be nature”. This philosophy contributes to the fact that over 70 percent of the area has been transformed into a natural dynamic zone in which there is little human intervention. In the long term, a new, diverse wilderness should be created that strengthens local biodiversity. Nationalpark-Harz has set itself high goals here.
Plants for the future
What exactly is being planted? Forester August Bock heads the Torfhaus National Park area and has a good knack for selecting tree species. A colorful mix of copper beech, rowan, downy birch, willow and maple is planted. It is very important to avoid monocultures; Instead, the foresters combine different species, heights and shrubs. These measures are not only important for aesthetics, but also promote the diversity of life in the Harz. Good to know: Dead wood is valued here as a lifesaver - it decomposes and supplies the soil with important nutrients for the new plants, as the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation emphasizes.
The successes are already visible: the beetle densities, which were primarily responsible for the decline in spruce trees, have fallen sharply. A ray of hope for the local forests! And in ten years? By then the newly planted mixed forests should be almost fully grown and represent an unmistakable biotope that is a joy not only for nature but also for our eyes.
The challenges
Despite all the positive developments, those responsible are facing enormous challenges. The fire has had a long-term impact on large parts of the ecosystem, and this is not only felt in the national park itself. But the course is being maintained and the first felled trees will soon be sold on the domestic market in order to secure financing for further projects.
Overall, it can be seen that the Harz is recovering slowly but steadily. The ambitious plans of the foresters combined with the wisdom of nature promise a blooming paradise that leaves nothing to be desired by either people or animals. It will be exciting to see how the Harz will develop in the coming years!