Forestry
The forest once covered not only vast parts of the Hunsrück mountain range
region, but also the entire Nahe region, including the river meadows. At the
higher altitudes, the forests are mainly beech, whereas below 400 metres they
consist mainly of oaks. Interspersed with these are maple, ash, birch, beam,
and in wetter areas along the river, alder and willow can be found. After
the ruinous phase of commercial exploitation, about 160 years ago, more productive
types of trees were introduced, mainly the spruce tree. However, in the area
where a dryer wine-growing climate predominates, the spruce has only limited
space. Brushwood played an important role in the Nahe valley and on most of
its steep side valleys up until 60 years ago. This type of forestry called
for cutting down oaks when they reached twenty years of age but allowing the
stump to produce shoots in order to create the next generation of trees. The
bark was used as a basis of tanning agents for leatherworking, while the wood
was prized for burning.
For centuries, Loh- und Rotgerber (specialized tanners) tanned the pelts of
local fur-bearing animals and made these pelts into leather. Out of this,
a new and important leather industry has developed during the past decades
in
Kirn.
Today "natural forestry" aims to construct forests that contain mixed tree
species, which are altitude dependent and are of different ages. Additionally,
rare and endangered animal- and plant species should not only be preserved,
but increased in the long term by intentional resettlement. The previously
frequent deforestation of entire areas is being replaced by a rejuvenation
of the forest through seeding in the protecting shade of the mixed forest
canopy. Once felled, the use of the wood is determined by the average diameter
of each individual tree. The use of chemical treatments is avoided, except
where they are necessary to protect the economically valuable wood. According
to the new sustainability concept, dead wood is the beginning and end of all
forest life. When a tree dies, it attracts new life; for example, the hundreds
of bugs, fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, spiders, woodlice, slugs which depend
on dead wood, as well as numerous birds and animals. In natural forests, dead
wood also contains a huge amount of valuable nutrients, which flow back into
the forest ground after the dead wood inhabitants have done their work. A
dead wood deficiency therefore means a reduction in habitat and nutrition
for its inhabitants, and ultimately a less nutritious and fertile forest
floor. This is why today the relicts of old forests are increasingly encouraged
by forest administrations to increase diversity in species. In contrast to
the "tidy" commercial forest, so-called "natural" forests contain 50-300 cubic
meter of dead wood, providing a healthier environment for both the forest
species and people seeking recreation.
For centuries, leather was manufactured from the animal skins of Loh- and
Red tanners in the Nahe area. This developed
Kirn
into an important leather industry which continues up to this day. In the
old days, ground oak bark was used as the tanning agent. It was obtained from
12 to 18 year old oaks by peeling the bark from the trunk and branches. The
dried bark was then put through a mill to finely grind it. The actual tanning
process itself took place in a pit, the bottom of which was strewn with a
layer of the ground bark. On top of this, the tanner spread the cleaned and
prepared skins. This layer was covered with the tanning agent, and another
layer of skins was laid upon it. These alternating layers would build up until
the pit was full. Boards were laid across the topmost layer and weighted with
heavy stones. Finally, the tanner would saturate the pit by running water
into it. After 2 to 3 months, the tanning agents were fully absorbed into
the skins. This process would be repeated until the leather was "sated". Oak
bark gave a brownish red colour, which is the basis for the name "Rotgerber"
("Red tanner"). In Kirn there is a Rotgerber guild, which was founded in 1612,
and still exists today.