“I am delighted that together with the companies SITEC and LockTec and the WBV Kronach-Rothenkirchen, we are able to carry out this large-scale initiative. Kronach’s municipal forest serves as a local recreation area for our citizens,” said Angela Hofmann, Mayor of Kronach. She visited a section of woodland belonging to the municipal area near Fröschbrunn together with District Councillor Bernd Steger, the first deputy of the District Administrator, Johannes Clausen, Managing Director of LockTec, Frank Sieg, Sales Manager at LockTec, Martin Burger, horticultural technician for the City of Kronach, and Johannes Schneider, advisor at the Waldbesitzervereinigung Kronach-Rothenkirchen e.V.

Frankenwald greatly affected by climate change and bark beetles

In recent years, heat, drought, and bark beetles have taken a severe toll on the Frankenwald. Many diseased trees have had to be felled, resulting in large clearings. The City of Kronach aims to reforest these gaps in the woodland as quickly as possible – transforming them into sustainable, climate-resilient, and ecologically meaningful mixed forests.

A clear sign of responsibility and local commitment

The Weißenbrunn-based companies SITEC and LockTec have been committed to a consistent sustainability strategy for years. Of particular importance to them are independence from natural gas and oil through their own biomass heating plant, material recycling, and keeping bees on the company premises. In addition, the companies wish to donate trees annually for reforestation in the Frankenwald, with the primary intention of supporting local forests. “For us, as a regionally rooted group of companies, it is important that the tree-planting initiative takes place here, in our local forests. In doing so, we want to send a clear signal of our responsibility and connectedness with the region, its people, and future generations,” stated Johannes Clausen, Managing Director of LockTec GmbH, and Lukas Clausen, Managing Director of SITEC GmbH.

First 800 trees already planted

The first step has already been taken: in cooperation with the Bavarian State Forests, the group of companies has planted 800 sessile oaks, hornbeams, and wild pear trees in a forested area near Großvichtach (Kronach district). In this current second step, a further 300 sweet chestnut trees have been planted in the municipal Frankenwald. The City of Kronach and the companies have entrusted the planting to professionals. The WBV Kronach-Rothenkirchen has been dedicated to ecologically sound management since 1969.

A win-win situation for city, companies, residents, and nature

Supporting local forestry through local companies in the sustainable, climate-resilient transformation to mixed forests, and thereby easing the burden on local councils, leads to a win-win situation. The councils are supported, as SITEC and LockTec bear the risk: the price per sapling starts at three euros net. There is no guarantee that every sapling will become a tree. For the companies, such donations remain manageable. They benefit not only from positive public relations but also from a healthy environment. Every healthy tree produces enough oxygen for over ten people. Furthermore, trees are our most important allies in the fight for a more CO₂-friendly climate. And last but not least, as the mayor said, the citizens get back a piece of nature for recreation. Isn’t this a model with exemplary character?

Further information:
Fränkischer Tag, “Chestnut Trees for the City Forest”, published in the print edition on 10.07.2023
Neue Presse Kronach, “The Forest Needs New Trees”, published in the print edition on 14.07.2023
“Sustainable climate protection for the Frankenwald Nature Park”, published by SITEC GmbH on 05.05.2023
Photos: SITEC GmbH