PYROPHOB

What does it look like, when a forest is highly resistant to heat, drought and fires? How can we foster the emergence of a forest ecosystem that remains resilient, even in the face of climate change? The PYROPHOB ("fire-repellent") research project aims to answer these questions. The problem is urgent: Heat, drought and storms are taking their toll on Germany's forests, and the situation is likely to worsen signficantly in the future. Forest fires are becoming more frequent. The Forest Condition Survey recorded fewer healthy trees in 2020 than at any time since the survey began in 1984. To find out how forests can protect themselves against fires and global warming, eight partners from multiple disciplines have come together to create PYROPHOB. Research is being conducted on several forest areas in Brandenburg that have burned in recent years. These devastated forests now serve as a kind of open-air laboratory, in which PYROPHOB researchers can observe the development of new forest ecosystems in all their complexities.