Republic of Germany by ULRICH HAHN
Forest Officer, Bonn
In forestry as in agriculture, appropriate professional training and an efficient extension service are, especially with regard to farm woodlands, the best means of raising productivity. In recognition of this fact, a Forestry Extension Service, closely connected with the organization of the Agricultural Service, has been built up in the Federal Republic during recent years.
There are 670,000 farms in the Republic combining agricultural and forest areas and the latter make up as much as 64 percent of the total forest area, i.e., 4.4 million hectares of woodland. The proportion of cultivated to forest land on these farms averages about 3 :1. Earlier forest policy failed to take this factor of combination into account and measures taken were restricted solely to the forest areas. Now it has become necessary to give attention to the recognized requirements of both agriculture and forestry and to build up a suitable type of Forestry Extension Service accordingly.
In the North Rhine-Westphalia District, for instance, the tasks of the Extension Service are to render the following assistance, while fully respecting the rights of the owners of woodlands:
1. making woodland inventories and appraisals of the growing stock, and giving advice on management plans and silvicultural practices;2.
a) raising productivity, first through the formation of forest co-operatives; since really profitable forestry can only be practiced on areas of a certain minimum size, it is an important task of the Extension Service, by explanation, advice and assistance, to promote the establishment of forest co-operatives and help to put them on a sound business footing;b) promoting useful measures such as the conversion of coppice to high forest, use of fertilizers, afforestation of waste land, making plantations outside the forests, and generally sponsoring good land use;
3. promoting better silviculture and utilization, by advising on appropriate silviculture systems and correct cultivation methods, purchase of attested forest seeds and plants, proper thinning and cutting practices, drawing up of simple working plans, sorting and utilization of the harvested timber, proper work methods and prevention of logging and hauling losses;
4. controlling over-cutting and advising on the change-over from one kind of land use to another;
5. Dissemination of the latest technical information: an essential part of the work of the Extension Service is to spread technical knowledge and increase the efficiency of the woodland owners as well as their understanding of forestry problems, for the improvement of farm woodlots and small forests is basically a problem of education.
FIGURE 3. Demonstration of one-man power saw to farmers by members of a mobile extension team.
Organization of service
For reasons of economy the Forest Extension Service has hitherto been linked to the existing official forest administrations which cover the expenses involved. It is intended, however, since the service works solely for the benefit of private owners, that they should themselves take over the financing. The woodland owners are likely to be eager to employ their own extension officers once they have realized the usefulness and advantages of the general Forestry Extension Service.
Since the extension officers have a wide area to cover and must get about quickly, cars or motor bicyles have been put at their disposal. More over, additional foresters have had to be taken into employment because more personnel were needed than the forest administration could release for special work.
Southern Germany
In southern Germany, owing to the different economic structure, the Forestry Extension Service is handled differently. In Baden-Württemberg, for instance, special "flying teams" have been set up, and the result has been very profitable. These advisory teams consist of one junior forest-master, one district ranger and two to three professional loggers, working together and giving demonstrations. The main stress is laid on teaching techniques and giving instruction in the sorting of timber and marketing. The work of these teams has been highly appreciated. During last spring the service was especially successful in southern Germany when strong winds resulted in a large amount of fallen timber having to be quickly cleared so as to prevent serious damage by pests, such as bark beetles. Quick and efficient action was taken by the Extension Service and the problem was solved.
In Bavaria, which has a different system of land ownership, no special advisory teams have been established. Here the main task lies in making inventories of private woodlands and this is combined with extension work.
Education of woodland owners
In general, however, assistance rendered by extension officers is not limited to technical forestry problems but involves also the practical education of woodland owners and especially farmers. Besides this, the foresters employed by private owners are also given training in special courses at forestry schools; forestry training at agricultural schools is to be increased.
Pamphlets and leaflets on forestry topics are issued periodically. These illustrated leaflets are written in easily understandable terms, with the aim of arousing and keeping the interest of woodland owners. Railway carriages have been transformed into training workshops and small buses have been equipped with the latest tools for felling, planting and repair work, so that practical demonstrations may be given at the actual place of work.
Extension work requires well-trained foresters who have initiative and a good understanding of psychology. It raises many problems, but it is a new and very rewarding task for which only the best men are suited.
