Nadine Hoffmann, July 23, 2021, Forestry in Thüringen

Thüringen Landtag, Plenarprotokoll 7/55, pp. 33-35, 38-40.

Right honorable Herr President. Valued colleague members. Dear viewers, here and on livestream. Greetings to the Thüringen Forest Owners’ Association.

As a consequence of a current, extraordinarily high national demand and a corresponding price increase, domestic tradesman, the construction industry and the packing industry are experiencing a distinct increased cost of their required raw materials. The development is also in the context of a building boom in various countries outside of Europe.

In Germany, the number of building permits in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 has grown compared to the previous years’ time period, among which are those for building construction, the building of kindergartens and public offices, with effects upon the price. In this connection, fallen conifer timber, for which until a few months ago could be obtained only extraordinarily low prices, also undergoes an increased demand. Log as well as cut timber prices also increase and increase massively, and that also goes for all kinds of conifer. The German saw mill industry and the German lumber trade are registering a substantial increase in turnover in regards the demand, yet the forest owners and the lumber producers profit but insufficiently from the price development. The price explosions in the supply chains have taken place subsequent to sawing.

A greater portion of the lumber will at the same time be exported and is here no longer on hand, which, besides the increased expense, will be a problem for tradesmen, home builders and the processing branches. In this situation, our motion [Drucksache 7/2193] shall take care to support forest owners, secure the lumber branch and the building industry in the Free State, and use the present opportunities for the Thüringen lumber industry.

The Landtag shall resolve that:

1. The lumber trade even in Thüringen presently registers a high income as a result of a worldwide increasing demand for timber and logs, from which Thüringen forest owners and log producers hitherto scarcely profit appropriately;
   

2. The domestic/Thüringen market, as a result of the worldwide increasing demand for wood, has entered into a shortage [Verknappung] and thereby prevail in Thüringen a construction materials scarcity and a processing postponement which negatively effect, and increase the prices of, the various branches of industry;  
   

3. The rising demand for logs and cut timber, and also increasingly for fallen timber, offer an opportunity to stimulate a care of forests which in past months for reasons of cost was not properly performed;
   

4. A strategy for the prophylactic protection and for the conversion [Umbau] of Thüringen forests must be developed, whereby these forests will in the future be better secured against infestation calamities and extreme weather, and the raw material of wood be made available for the future;
   

5. The aspired forest conversion [Waldumbau] can only be achieved by a clearing of fallen timber, well organized in terms of personnel, as well as of finance and material;
   

6. A market-forming function inheres in the Thüringen State Forestry Administration with its fixing of wood prices;
   

7. A plantation [Ansiedlung] and smaller wood-working businesses in the Free State strengthen the regional value-added chains;
   

8. The State should do all in its current power to strengthen and secure value-added chains in the Free State of Thüringen;
   

9. Electricity generation from fallen timber is a possibility of utilization hitherto insufficiently promoted, especially in times which present a reduced demand or an over-supply;
   

The problem of raw material shortage, wood shortage and increased expense of raw material is thus to be approached from various sides so as to create short-term assistance and in the mid- and long-term to avoid such situations in the future.

An optimal forest management by means of Waldumbau and support of private forest owners can thereby help not only that the Thüringen forests continue to exist in respect to ecology, industry and tourism. The strengthening of the domestic value-added chain secures workplaces in the Free State and supports the Mittelstand.

To be continued in debate. Many thanks for the attention.

…

Herr President. Dear viewers and colleagues.

– Building boom in times of Corona. Homeowners struggle in a monthly rhythm with drastically rising prices or now falling prices. Even when these decline, Herr Bergner, one should nevertheless exercise caution.

Thüringen tradesmen and workmen find no material, the wood shortage endangers private and state branches, the domestic value-added chains suffer. The order books are full, the storage empty, part-time employment threatens and again it hits primarily the Mittelstand.

The international log trade accelerated in the third quarter of 2020 after a hesitant start in the previous two quarters. The export of logs reached a record level in 2020. Thus, according to statements of the Federal Statistics Office, around 12.7 million cubic meters of logs, valued at over 800 million euros, were exported, which means an increase of over 40 percent as opposed to 2019. The principal importer was China with nearly 50 percent. Germany thereby doubled its quantity delivered to China in the third quarter of 2020 as opposed to the previous quarter.

The producer prices for logs, on the  other hand, remain below the level of previous years, while saw, roughing and proofing mills realize increases in turnover in 2020 and 2021. The need for cut timber products likewise has increased. While cut timber production in Germany already in 2020 rose in comparison to the previous year, the German saw mill industry announces for the first quarter of this year a turnover of almost 1.5 billion euros. That is approximately 30 percent more than the first quarter of the previous year as reported by the general association of the German wood industry. The number is quite satisfactory; last year yielded over 80 million cubic meters. It was a record year, referent primarily to coniferous timber which, with over 80 percent, makes up the principal quantity.

The fallen timber makes up more than half, yet in many places remains lying in the forest, chiefly on account of a lack of saw mill and storage capacities, as well as on account of uncovered recovery costs. A neglect with consequences.

The German saw mill industry and the German lumber trade are now generating as a result of the building boom rising incomes which they do not pass on to the forest owners – we are here on account of that – which in addition gives rise to a restrained delivery and less drive whereby the problem is enlarged.

You yourself would have been able to make a motion, Herr Montag, if the theme is so important to you.

An observation of the market was implemented too late, hoarding effects in other countries were recognized too late, so as to be able to counteract the material shortage. The only demand for an export stop falls short. Now it needs be counteracted by means of implementing the following demands:

1.  To take care that the Thüringen Forest Administration observes the international market and, as a direct pricemaker for logs, creates the conditions by which the private forest owners can participate in the present high wood prices and so earn a better income for forest care and re-forestation projects;

2.  To commit to that fallen timber remaining in the forest will be quickly salvaged by the Thüringen Forest or with support of private owners;

3.   In regards the private forest owners, to actively take care of the claim to the possibility of “forestation contracts”, and to thereby de-couple wood marketing from forest management;

4.   To take care that by strengthening the Thüringen woodworking industry, the raw wood at disposal in Thüringen can be processed in domestic value-added chains and, for example, be at the disposal of people wanting to build in Thüringen, of tradesman and of the packing or furniture industries;

5.   In association with the Thüringen forestry branches, the forest owners, the Thüringen colleges and the State forestry institute, to further expand and to intensify forestry research for Waldumbau and for avoiding future infestation calamities;

6.   To commit to an increase in the attraction of forestry teaching and study pursuits and to thereby also take into consideration the recovery of skilled labor;

7.   In regards excess supply, Herr Schubert, to commit to the promotion of the possibility, on the EU and Federal levels, of the co-combustion of wood biomass in coal power plants, in Erbrennungsanlagen, as well as in community heating utilities, so as to promote the utilization in suitable facilities of hitherto unused, leftover wood remaining in the forests.

Mid- and long-term, sufficient skilled labor needs be made available so as to be able to secure under contrary circumstances a total forest management. An improvement of the training and recruitment situation can obviate future mis-developments, as a result of which in past training cohorts various skilled workers did not undertake employment.

The State government needs not only set the parameters for a Waldumbau, capable of resistance, suitable to venue, and rich in species and yield, but should, in association with Thüringen colleges and the Forest Institute, be a scout for forest research and in regards training in the forestry professions. The State administration’s special offices, the State Forestry Institute, the Thüringen forestry branches and local colleges can here by means of research make an important contribution.

One word on the forests: At the beginning of the year, the forests experienced an initial recovery, then the initial swarm flights occurred in May and meanwhile for the month of June is to be figured record damages resulting from the bark beetle; almost double as many cubic meters of damaged timber compared to the previous year are to be lamented; the result of a too long delayed Waldumbau to more more mixed deciduous forests – for financial reasons, among others.

A forest hiatus [Stilllegung], on the other hand, is no concept against bark beetle incidence and though the prices for fallen timber may be sufficient, as the State Forestry Institute most recently stated, as ever still do not primarily profit the private forest owners, who however must secure 40 percent of the Waldumbau in the Free State. They should be steadily compensated for CO₂ obligations, ecological variety, tourism and plainly also as suppliers of raw materials.

A comprehensive strategy, which uses our forests and which considers economy and education, is required in Thüringen’s interest.

In conclusion: There remains that as always we can submit motions which, as good as they are, will nevertheless be rejected, only because they come from the AfD.

Many thanks for the attention.

 

[trans: tem]