Planting trees for the future - O' pflanzt is!

Logo O'pflanzt is!

Planting future forests for climate protection

The initiative "O'pflanzt is!" is committed to the climate-friendly conversion of our native forests. Over the past three years, 100,000 trees have been planted. In the future, the project will include research on climate resilience in addition to planting.

The condition of native forests is critical. The latest forest condition report* from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry shows that 4 out of 5 trees are not healthy. Extensive drought and bark beetle infestation have particularly affected spruce and pine stands. Converted and managed forests actively contribute to climate protection. They sequester CO2 and store carbon in the wood and forest soils over the long term.

In 2022, the initiative "O'pflanzt is!" was launched by the BayWa Foundation together with the Bavarian State Forests. In addition to beech, oak and fir trees, tree species such as Norway maple, service tree and sweet chestnut are also being planted in Bavaria. They are better able to cope with the changed climatic conditions than spruce, for example. The original goal of planting 100,000 trees in Bavaria within three years was achieved. As a result, many fallow areas damaged by storms and bark beetles and monocultures have been reforested with climate-resilient tree species.

Source: BMEL - Forest Condition Survey 2023

Mixed Forest

Reforestation and research go hand in hand

Expansion for 2025

To make forests fit for the future and adapt to new climatic conditions, they need to be converted. This includes silviculture, wood utilization and planting of appropriate tree species. The measures are to be carried out across the whole of Bavaria and thus across all types of forest ownership.

About 56 percent* of the forest area in Bavaria is privately owned. Forest owners are caught between risk and profit. There are no reliable, sustainable solutions for these areas, especially for extreme locations. Options beyond the existing life span are not predictable without risk.

In the future, we want to offer private forest owners concrete solutions through a strategic partnership with a planting and research partner, where reforestation and research work go hand in hand. Subsequently, parts of the areas will be planted with particularly suitable tree species and varieties and their development will be scientifically monitored. We need the forest more than ever.

*Source: Bavarian State Institute of Forestry

Logo Messe München

A project with strong partners

Achieving more together

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Messe München has introduced the optional GoGreen ticket. Visitors and exhibitors can voluntarily support climate protection projects by paying a surcharge of €5 on the normal ticket price. This amount is not intended to compensate for the actual emissions caused by a visit to the fair, but to provide financial support for climate protection and adaptation measures.

Part of the proceeds from the ticket surcharge will go directly to our reforestation initiative O'pflanzt ist. We say thank you!

Support the expansion of mixed forests

Help to convert Bavarian forests into climate-tolerant and stable mixed forests in order to preserve the fragile forest ecosystem and its vital functions.

Become a tree donor for O'pflanzt is now!