Created by Mario Pfeuffer | 06.07.2023
"I am pleased that we are carrying out this large-scale campaign together with the companies SITEC and LockTec and the WBV Kronach-Rothenkirchen. The Kronach municipal forest serves as a local recreation area for the citizens," said Angela Hofmann, Mayor of Kronach. Together with District Councillor Bernd Steger, First Deputy District Administrator, Johannes Clausen, Managing Director of LockTec, Frank Sieg, Sales Manager of LockTec, Martin Burger, Horticultural Technician at the City of Kronach and Johannes Schneider, Advisor at the Forest Owners Association Kronach-Rothenkirchen e.V., she visited a piece of forest near Fröschbrunn that belongs to the municipal area.
Franconian Forest badly affected by climate change and bark beetle
Heat, drought and the bark beetle have taken their toll on the Franconian Forest in recent years. Many diseased trees had to be felled. Large bare areas have been created. Gaps in the forest stand that the city of Kronach wants to reforest as quickly as possible - to create a sustainable, climate-tolerant and ecologically sound mixed forest.
A clear sign of responsibility and a sense of belonging to one's homeland
The Weissenbrunn-based companies SITEC and LockTec have been pursuing a consistent sustainability strategy for years. Particularly important to them are independence from natural gas and crude oil through their own biomass heating plant, the recycling of materials and the keeping of bees on the company premises. In addition, the companies want to donate trees annually for reforestation in the Franconian Forest. This is primarily to help the local forest. "For us, as a regionally rooted group of companies, it is important that the tree planting campaign takes place here in our local forests. We want to send a clear signal of our responsibility and solidarity with the region, the people living here and future generations", said Johannes Clausen, Managing Director of LockTec GmbH, and Lukas Clausen, Managing Director of SITEC GmbH.
First 800 trees already planted
A first step has already been taken: together with the Bavarian State Forests, the group of companies has planted 800 sessile oaks, hornbeams and wild pears in a wooded area near Großvichtach (district of Kronach). In the current second step, another 300 sweet chestnuts followed in the urban Franconian Forest. The city of Kronach and the companies placed the planting in professional hands. The WBV Kronach-Rothenkirchen has been taking care of ecologically sound management since 1969.
City, businesses, citizens and nature benefit from a win-win situation
The support of local forestry by local companies in the sustainable, climate-tolerant conversion of forests to mixed forests and the associated relief for the municipalities leads to a win-win situation. The municipalities are helped because the risk is borne by SITEC and LockTec: The price per seedling starts at three euros net. Whether each seedling will grow into a tree is uncertain. For the companies, such donations remain manageable. They benefit not only from good public relations, but also from an intact environment. Each healthy tree produces oxygen for more than ten people. Moreover, trees are the most important allies in the fight for a more CO2-friendly climate. And last but not least, the citizens get back a piece of nature, which - as the mayor said - serves them for recreation. Isn't that a model to follow?
Further information:
Fränkischer Tag, "Chestnuts for the town forest", published in the print edition on 10.07.2023.
Neue Presse Kronach, "New trees the forest needs", published in the print edition on 14.07.2023
"Sustainable climate protection for the Frankenwald nature park", published by Mario Pfeuffer on 05.05.2023
Pictures: Mario Pfeuffer, Marketing & Public Relations
