The New Forest
initial state of the forest in 2004
Why was the New Forest project created?
When we learned in 2004 that 7 hectares of forest were being sold on the slopes of Ještěd, we went to see it, and it was worse than we expected. A young spruce monoculture, broken by snow, damaged by browsing animals, dark and almost lifeless. It was hard to imagine a worse forest.
And that is precisely why we decided to acquire this forest and prepare a better future for it.
As Čmelák, we have been searching for such destroyed and neglected locations in the ordinary landscape, outside protected areas, for 30 years. We then bring them back to life through appropriate interventions.
Healing the landscape – that is the purpose of our work.
One of our goals is to show that it is not necessary to wait for more spruce forests to be destroyed by the bark beetle, but that it is possible to heal these forests in time. Everyone can see this with their own eyes on the lands that we have been taking care of for 20 years.
And there is one more reason: Primeval forests are disappearing all over the world at a dizzying pace. In the Czech Republic and in Europe, we have cut down most of the primeval forests long ago. The New Forest is a small but concrete contribution to their restoration.
Our big thanks go to all the donors and volunteers who have been helping us for 20 years.
We’d love for you to join us as well.
Jan Korytář
Chairman of the organisation
jan.korytar@cmelak.cz
