The next forest will be different

Beim nächsten Wald wird alles anders by Hans Jürgen Böhmer

With his book Beim nächsten Wald wird alles anders, published by S. Hirzel Verlag, the international forest expert Hans Jürgen Böhmer provides an overview of the current state of forest dieback and how it is influenced by climate change. He compiles research findings to explain the highly complex interrelationships within nature and offers a prognosis for Germany’s forests as well as for the global context. Ultimately, the book issues a call to action to prevent further forest decline.

More Than Just “Forest Dieback”

The book is divided into five main sections, each addressing different problem areas within the ecosystem. The author successively examines the forest dieback of the 1980s, the impact of climate change on the world’s forests (including in particular the danger posed by human-driven invasions of non-native plant species and introduced animals), society’s ecological awareness, a media landscape he considers prone to exaggeration, the growing detachment of forest research from practice, and finally the evolution of research approaches on this topic.

At the outset, the author illustrates the issue with earlier case studies from Germany, as well as from Hawaii and Australia. In doing so, he demonstrates how the influence of climate and human activity manifests itself differently in forests around the globe. In Hawaii, for example, the extinction of the ʻōhiʻa trees was not a direct consequence of climate change but rather of invasions by other plant and animal species, whose altered behaviors—also shaped by climate shifts—promoted the growth of competing species. At the same time, drought periods and the associated wildfires in places such as Australia show that climate change can also have direct and devastating effects on forests.

The Importance of Collective Awareness

The book addresses not only forest dieback itself but also strongly criticizes society’s failure to halt it effectively. The connection between prevailing human value systems and the death of forests runs like a common thread throughout the work. According to the author, the nature of media reporting plays a significant role in shaping societal responses to forest decline. In Germany during the 1980s, for example, there was strong public awareness of forest dieback, which led to forest health being given a very different priority than in places such as Fiji. Globally, there is also a highly unequal distribution of forest experts.

Böhmer aims to remind today’s scientific community of overlooked research findings from the past. He expresses concern about the growing detachment of research from on-the-ground reality, reflected in the increasing reliance on calculated remote diagnostics instead of field surveys—a dangerous consequence of today’s omnipresent time pressure.

Written in a popular science style, the book frequently turns to vivid examples and personal experiences to make the subject matter more tangible for readers. The international forest expert draws on current case studies to explain complex relationships. At times, however, the presentation becomes somewhat monotonous due to digressions and extensive listings of data and facts.

An Appeal to the Reader

The need for action in the forests is urgent. Climate change is bringing catastrophic consequences, and a forest collapse appears imminent. This is the conclusion reached in Beim nächsten Wald wird alles anders, a tone reflected in the book’s somewhat cynical title. The currently advanced process of forest dieback is merely an early symptom of the equally advanced climate crisis; further processes, such as the melting of the polar ice caps and increased species extinction, will follow.

The author calls for a modernization of forest research, allowing more time for detailed and well-founded research projects. He also directly urges readers to adopt more sustainable behavior and reduce consumption. In doing so, Böhmer links the endangerment of ecosystems to the personal responsibility of each individual. Through this approach, he successfully underscores the relevance of the topic.

Conclusion

Hans Jürgen Böhmer fulfills his ambition to provide an overview of the condition of forests in a global context and to highlight the importance of collective awareness regarding this issue. At times, however, he gives the impression of judging “from above,” with too little acknowledgment that it is often easier, in hindsight, to classify and research the significance of past conditions.

Overall, Beim nächsten Wald wird alles anders offers a compelling combination of ecological expertise and critical prognosis within a contemporary global analysis of forest health. This makes the book accessible both to experts in the field and to general readers. The long-term outlook presented is far from optimistic and leaves many questions unanswered.

Mona-Lou Henschel & Dr. Jessica D.S. Knall Seemeyer