Sonia Winder from Llansadwrn, Llanwrda, will visit Germany
Sector: Forestry
Details of the exchange:
An exchange to Germany will offer the opportunity to see how silviculture is practised and learn more about sustainable forest management.
Why did you apply for the Management Exchange?
To learn lessons about silviculture in Germany which I can bring back home to Welsh forests. It is also a great opportunity for a German professional to see how the forestry industry works in Wales.
What are you hoping to gain from participating in the Management Exchange?
Germany is justifiably proud of its sustainable forest management, and has been managing woodlands over hundreds of years where Wales has only been doing it on a large scale for the last century. As most UK stands are in transition, I want to look at mature continuous cover forestry and see how Germany grows high quality broadleaves such as beech, oak and other species, which sequester carbon, whereas we struggle to establish them in Wales.
I want to see how biodiversity is preserved and natural regeneration of spruce and Scots pine encouraged, and how threats from pests and diseases are dealt with.
To make our forests more economically active and support local employment, I want to know how we can better market non-timber products from Welsh forests such as venison, moss, foliage and fungi. Also, I want to compare forest soil and water management in Germany and Wales.
Management Exchange Report:
