Forest Economics and Sustainable Land-use Planning

News

Agroforestry in Germany is gaining momentum – thanks to pioneers who are moving forward despite currently unattractive framework conditions.
Our study shows: German agroforestry farmers are driven by a strong sense of public good and environmental awareness ("self-transcendence") as well as their pioneering spirit ("openness to new experiences"). These aspects are still insufficiently considered in many funding strategies.
What is needed now? Securing the livelihoods of trailblazers so they can pass on their enthusiasm and expertise for agroforestry, better economic incentives for broader practice, and less rigid regulations in EU agricultural policy to give farms the freedom to design agroforestry systems suited to their farm and region.
The good news: The younger generation of German farmers is motivated to implement more sustainable land-use systems. If policy and funding follow suit, the goal of 200,000 hectares of agroforestry land in Germany by 2027 comes within reach. Our findings provide well-founded impulses for agroforestry promotion – and thus for more agroforestry on German fields.

Growing trees for the greater good – German agroforestry farmers are driven by self-transcendence values

Researcher: Volckens, V., Husmann, K. und Paul, C.




🌙 Hands-on Science at the Night of Knowledge at the University of Göttingen! 🌲✨

Our research project ReHa – Regional Study Harz was represented with an interactive stand and attracted many interested visitors. The focus: How can the future of the forest in the Harz look like in times of climate change?
  • For children, there was a Harz quiz and a drawing station – creativity and curiosity were in demand!

  • At the tree species quiz, visitors could participate and try to identify various tree species that are assigned to a drought stress risk – a challenging and exciting task!

  • Our Post-it action "3 Words for the Harz" invited people to think: What connects people with the Harz? The answers were as diverse as the region itself.

  • Another highlight: AI-generated forest images were evaluated in terms of their recreational value – a fascinating insight into digital perception research.

  • Additionally, we presented posters on the individual sub-projects of the ReHa team – accompanied by many interested discussions, critical questions, and different perspectives.

    • We would like to thank all visitors for their great interest and the valuable exchange – this is what science communication looks like in practice!
    The project ReHa is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space within the framework of the REGULUS funding measure.