German forest authorities and private forest owners are responding to increasing wood theft with GPS technology and more controls. In particular, the sharp price increases, a decrease in supply and the fear of gas shortages are causing the illegal purchase of firewood to increase.
“The theft phenomenon is increasing, especially when goods are scarce, and we see that in the forest,” said Sabine Schorr, spokeswoman for the Saarland Ministry of the Environment. To prevent theft, more checks are carried out, witnesses are asked for information and transponders with GPS technology are used for surveillance. So-called forest trackers, which are hidden in the pile, immediately report if unauthorized tampering with the firewood. The signal can also be followed abroad and for days and weeks.
Cost of firewood fuels theft
Because the cost of firewood is also rising – from 60 to 70 euros per cubic meter last year to as much as 200 euros – some are trying to get hold of it illegally. The forest owners association AGDW in Berlin speaks of millions of damage caused by the wood thieves. Although there are apparently regional differences: “We have state associations like Bavaria, there are no problems at all,” said association spokesman Jürgen Gaulke. In contrast to NRW and around Berlin: Only recently did professional offenders with a harvester (solid wood chopper) take action in Brandenburg. They stole not only finished logs, but “really felled”.
According to estimates by the State Forest Institute in Thuringia, about 1,200 massive cubic meters of wood have already been stolen from the state forest this year. In previous years that was only a few hundred cubic meters.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
