Germany’s forests under threat

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 25 May 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Drought and hotter summers are killing Germany’s spruce forests. They’re a staple of the timber industry but are proving unable to cope with the consequences of climate change. Four out of five of Germany’s trees show signs of sickness, according to the latest survey of the health of the country’s forests. All tree species are affected. And although the last couple of years have seen more rain this hasn’t been enough to compensate for the damage already done. One third of Germany is forested and trees are seen as a means of absorbing carbon emissions, as well as a source of wood for the building industry and heating. Forests are also a popular destination for recreation – hiking, biking or simply relaxing. Caroline Bayley has been to some of the country’s forests to find out what’s being done to rescue Germany’s trees before it’s too late. Producer/presenter: Caroline Bayley Editor: Penny Murphy Studio: Engineer Rod Farquhar Production co-ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross (Photo: Harz mountains by Caroline Bayley)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Fukushima, an original audio drama series from the BBC World Service.
0:06.4	Telling the story of the 2011 disaster at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.
0:11.8	There is no greater threat we face at this time than the one unfolding in Fukushima Daiichi.
0:18.2	Search for Fukushima wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
0:22.8	Thanks for choosing to listen to assignment on the documentary podcast from the BBC World Service.
0:28.2	I'm Caroline Bailey and in this episode I'm reporting from Germany where I'm finding out how
0:33.9	climate change is threatening the country's forests. Four out of five trees in Germany are showing
0:39.6	signs of damage with 35% in a serious state or dead. I want to know what's being done to save
0:46.8	Germany's trees and the program begins in one of the worst affected areas, the Harts Mountains.
0:53.7	Oh yes, there's the Brock and the highest mountain just over to our left.
0:57.6	And now you are on 971 metres.
1:02.0	Right.
1:03.0	Yes, it's one of the biggest mountain in the Harts.
1:09.6	All these trees are dead in front of us.
1:11.8	Yeah, all these trees.
1:13.0	And when do you think they died?
1:16.1	And the last five years from 2018 and they died next year's too.
1:25.6	But this is all dead.
1:27.0	And then if we look to the hillside beyond, there's barely any green at all.
1:31.6	It's all spookly grey dead trees.
1:35.9	Yeah, it's a little bit like a horror film.
1:39.0	Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service.
	...

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