sustainable bee forest: multifunctional reforestation for pollinators and income

sustainable bee forest concept enhances habitats for flower-pollinating insects during reforestation and afforestation, integrating non-wood forest products for income. Designed for climate change adaptation, it supports smallholder farmers facing forest dieback from pests, storms, and fire. Implemented in Hesse, Germany, the approach combines profitable timber species with nectar and pollen sources, using natural ecological processes. A 3.5-hectare site previously dominated by spruce was afforested with robinia, chestnut, linden, bird cherry, and walnut in 2022, including land prep, planting, maintenance, and fencing. BMEL estimates nearly 500,000 hectares of forest land will need afforestation by 2023.