Forests, timber & hunting
"Our forests – nature and an economic factor at the same time"(Federal Minister Ilse Aigner)
Germany has more than 11 million hectares of high-grade, biodiverse forests with steadily growing timber stocks, the largest in Europe. The entire forestry and timber industry generates sales revenues of roughly Euro 160 billion every year and employs more than 1.25 million people. With its Wood Charter and Forest Strategy 2020 the BMELV documents its support for the increased use of timber, the sustainable management of forests and conservation of biodiversity in indigenous forests. Hunting also plays an increasingly important role here. It helps to maintain the increasingly challenged habitats of indigenous flora and fauna in forests and open fields.
The BMELV’s objective is to secure the positive development of forestry and the timber industry in order to benefit the climate, quality of life, innovation and jobs. In international forestry policy the Federal Government seeks to combat illegal logging and to maintain global forests.
