Saar coal forest

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Saarkohlenwald is a natural area (consecutive numbering: 191.0 Saarkohlenwald) within the Saar-Nahe-Bergland . It extends over an area of ​​approx. 61 km² from Saarbrücken to Neunkirchen (Saar) . It is embedded in the green axis of the Saarland , which stretches from Warndt in the southwest to Homburg in the east. In the south-west it borders on the densely populated area of ​​the state capital Saarbrücken. In the other areas, the forest area is limited by the communities of Merchweiler , Qui Various , Heusweiler and Riegelsberg and the cities of Sulzbach / Saar , Püttlingen and Friedrichsthal .

Geology and vegetation

The extent of the Saar coal forest corresponds approximately to the extent of the carbon in the Saarland.

A mesophilic beech forest on carbon fiber and a stream accompanying alder-ash forest in the valley floodplain are assumed as potential natural vegetation .

Historical development and use

In the 18th century, high forest management prevailed, followed by the Napoleonic and Prussian state forest operations. The French mining dynasty Gouvy built mines in the forest around 250 years ago. Large-scale exploitation through the mining of coal and iron ore began with the development of the Saarland into a mining district. The wood was felled for the extraction of charcoal , which was needed for the iron and glass works on the banks of the streams, and as finishing wood for coal mining. In the course of the 20th century, when mining and the coal and steel industry lost their importance, the area developed again into a dense forest, but cut through by highways and settlements.

Today's condition and usage

With the decline of heavy industry and mining, the exploitation of the forest also came to an end. Hidden behind trees and bushes you can still find ruins and relics of uses from all eras. In the center of the forest is the "primeval forest at the gates of the city", designated as a European natural heritage under the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and as a bird sanctuary. Today the forest serves the recreational needs of the population and nature conservation. Nowadays, several hiking trails such as the Haldenrundweg and the jungle tour lead through it.

The Saarbrücken Regional Association offers an overview of the Saar coal forest in maps from the period between 1808 and 2006. The history (s) of historical places are marked and described on the maps.

Saarkohlenwald pilot project

The Saar coal forest with its evidence of industrial and settlement history is to be developed as a recreational landscape for the Saarbrücken agglomeration within the framework of the “Saar Regional Park” concept. Plans such as “the jungle at the gates of the city”, the design of the area surrounding the Neuhaus barn and the expansion of the forest culture center with the associated gastronomy were implemented. In addition, new cycle paths, a process protection forest and an arboretum were created . The plan is to restore the former "Ludwigspark" landscape garden and to equip mining dumps with viewing platforms. They should be visible from afar as landmarks .

Sink pond

Further planning and proposed measures are being considered:

  • Natural development of rivers
  • Water restoration
  • Removal of non-local trees in the floodplain
  • Rehabilitation and recultivation of heaps, sink ponds and sand pits, dismantling of industrial and traffic areas
  • Conversion of non-location forest stands

As part of the objectives of the Saar Regional Park , the diversity that the forest has to offer is preserved and protected, but also made recognizable, tangible and understandable for the population.

Trivia

An underground coal seam has been smoldering on the Burning Mountain since the 17th century.

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ [1] Geoportal Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed on September 28, 2015
  2. ^ Geological map of the Saarland 1: 100000, 1974
  3. ↑ http://anw-saar.de/exkursion/hoelzerbachtal.pdf
  4. ↑ MfU Saarland, space vision Saarkohlenwald of 2003.
  5. ↑ Primeval forest area. Saar-Urwald.de website, September 2004
  6. ↑ Morphoses: The Haldenrundweg . with hiking map. Ed .: Ministry for the Environment of Saarland. 2nd Edition. Saarbrücken August 2006 ( online [PDF; 2.6 MB ]).
  7. ↑ The “Primeval Forest Tour” premium trail - adventure and sensuality. Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) Landesverband Saarland e. V., accessed on January 21, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Saarkohlenwald storybook: [2]
  9. ↑ http://www.saarland.de/regionalpark.htm