German Federal Council agrees to restrict logging

On March 26, the German Federal Council approved the draft ordinance on the restriction of regular logging in the forestry year 2021 (HolzEinschlBeschrV2021). Thus, the permissible standard logging of spruce in the current forestry year – from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 – will be reduced to 85% in the whole of Germany. The aim of this is to calm the market.

“This regulation falls far short of our expectations,” said Hans-Georg von der Marwitz, President of AGDW – Die Waldeigentümer, in the run-up to the meeting. “After three years of drought, that’s a drop in the ocean”. A far greater restriction on logging at a much earlier point in time would have helped the forest owners to regulate the massive market disruption. “This regulation comes too late, it will not have much effect.”