Celebration for the forest: Forester Stefan Baranek is retiring after 35 years!

Celebration for the forest: Forester Stefan Baranek is retiring after 35 years!

On June 3, 2025, an era will come to an end: Stefan Baranek, the long-time head of the Fellbach-Kernen forestry district, will retire. After 35 years at the helm of the forestry district, which includes the Fellbacher local mountain and parts of the Schurwald, he not only leaves behind an impressive balance sheet, but also a lasting impression in the field of forestry.

The 61-year-old has planted countless oak trees on the Kappelberg and always paid particular attention to maintaining the protective function of the forest. “I wanted to be a forester since I was a child,” says Baranek, who will move into passive partial retirement on July 1st, which effectively marks the start of his retirement. His commitment to sustainable and more natural forest management is appreciated by many.

Challenges for the forest

During Baranek's career, the forestry industry experienced numerous changes. The current forest status report shows a worrying deterioration in the forest, which is not only due to climate change. The previous application of “good professional practice” in forestry has also contributed significantly to forest damage. These factors are now in the foreground as the Federal Forest Act of 1975 is due to be revised. A redefinition of “good professional practice” is required to take the ecological status of forests into account, as bundesbuergerinitiative-waldschutz.de reports.

Important criteria for the new version of the law include the ecological functions of the forest, the ability to adapt to climate changes and the effects on the water balance and the landscape. The accompanying report highlights the urgency of prioritizing ecological concerns over economic interests.

The future of forestry

The misapplication of forestry has already led to fatal consequences. A beech-oak mixed forest in Münsterland is an example of the devastating effects of excessive logging. Old trees, which are crucial for biodiversity and climate protection, are increasingly disappearing, affecting forest canopy and soil compaction.

The Federal Constitutional Court emphasized as early as 1990 that forestry policy also serves to preserve the forest as an ecological compensation area. Future measures must therefore promote natural forest management and focus on the ecosystem services of intact forests.

Stefan Baranek leaves a legacy based on a deep understanding of the importance of the forest. However, the challenges that the forestry industry will have to overcome in the future remain great. A rethinking of how we deal with our forests is urgently needed in order to maintain ecological functions and protect biodiversity stuttgarter-nachrichten.de. Developments in the coming years will show whether a balance can be found between economic use and ecological requirements.