In the Harz National Park

What does "letting nature be nature" look like in the former spruce farm forest in the Harz National Park? 15 students got a closer look at this on a guided hike together with Meike Hullen (Head of Department for Information and Education Work and graduate of our degree programme) and Anna-Lena Vollheyde on a warm late summer day on 15 September 2020. On the excursion, the students experienced first-hand the changes the wilderness area is currently undergoing due to the bark beetle infestation - and which valuable new habitats are being created as a result. While walking along the boardwalks above the Great Torfhaus Moor, the students also learned about some characteristic and rare plant species in the moor ecosystem and discuss the effects of climate change on the habitats in the Harz National Park.