Reutbergwirtschaft

The Reutbergwirtschaft (Reute = clearing ), also forest field cultivation , Hauberg or Birkbergwirtschaft, is a combination of coppice forest operation (firewood, pole wood production) with intermediate agricultural use ( grain and root crop cultivation ), in which the forests for the production of arable land at intervals of ten to Thirty years have been cleared by fire again and again . The fertilizer allowed a one- to three-year arable land use. Gradually it came to reforestation through stick rash. In the meantime, the area has often been used as scrub pasture.

The Reuteberg economy began in the 13th century and was characterized by softwood forests rich in hazel and birch . It was on steep slopes in the German low mountain ranges , such as B. in the Middle Black Forest , widespread.

Forestry use

For wood extraction, the tillering was used from a thickness of approx. 4 cm. It was burning and pole wood won. Often the Reutbergwirtschaft was also used for the extraction of oak bark for the tannery ( Gerberlohe ). Then hazel , aspen , willow , birch and shrubbery were removed to allow the oaks to grow well.

Rütte or Riddibrennen

For the firing, the brushwood that was not usable for forestry was left on the surface and distributed in strips that ran perpendicular to the slope. In the middle of the Black Forest, the previously hacked ("scabbed") and dried turf sods were used, especially the broom . This fuel, the so-called Bergreute ("Rüttifüre"), was then set on fire and pulled over the area from top to bottom with long fire hooks.

Arable use

After firing in the ashes for fertilization was incurred, which were cleared areas with the hoe loosened and cereals such as winter rye , oats and buckwheat and / or potato sown .

Fall of the Reutbergwirtschaft

In the middle of the 19th century , the Reutberg economy fell sharply. The agricultural use of these areas became increasingly unprofitable and wood prices rose. Forestry legislation also regulated the use of the forest . The Reutberge were oak , Edelkastanien- , hazel down forests but also with higher yielding timber , such as spruce and fir , replanted or in vineyards converted.

swell

Goldammer, JG, S. Montag and H. Page. 1997. Use of fire in central and northern European landscapes. History, methods, problems, perspectives. Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation, Schneverdingen, NNA reports 10, issue 5, 18–38. ISSN 0935-1450

literature

Abetz, Karl: Rural forest management. Represented on the conditions in Baden . Hamburg and Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey 1955

Individual evidence

^ Miaskowski, A. von, 1878: The agricultural, alpine and forestry constitution of German Switzerland in its historical development . - Baur, Basel. IX + 130 p.
^ Department for nature conservation and landscape management: nature reserves in the administrative district of Freiburg . Ed .: Regional Council Freiburg. 3. Edition. Thorbecke, Ostfildern 2011, ISBN 978-3-7995-5177-9 , pp. 76 .

Web links

[1] Miaskowski, A. von, 1878: The agricultural, alpine and forestry constitution of German Switzerland in its historical development . - Baur, Basel. IX + 130 p.

[NSGRegFR-2] Department for nature conservation and landscape management: nature reserves in the administrative district of Freiburg . Ed .: Regional Council Freiburg. 3. Edition. Thorbecke, Ostfildern 2011, ISBN 978-3-7995-5177-9 , pp. 76 .