Forests, Keepers of time

11 April 2013

Nearly all European forests have been influenced by many generations of people. Every generation has left behind its traces, which are visible till this day in the form of e.g. boundary and wildlife banks, Celtic fields, burial mounds, loam and iron extraction pits, avenues and tree rows, coppice forest, border trees, historical roads and paths, historical buildings, etc.

A lack of knowledge poses a serious threat to the preservation of historical, cultural and spiritual elements and structures. As a result, in many places valuable historical elements get damaged because of forest management activities and recreational activities.

Since 2003 Probos has drawn attention to cultural history in management. In 2005 the book ‘Historische boselementen’ (‘Elements of cultural heritage in and of forests’) was published, several lectures and symposia took place and example projects were initiated in the Ketelwald near Groesbeek, the Renkumse stream valley and the manor house (‘havezate’) Oldengaerde and the Ooster- and Westerzand near Dwingeloo. Additionally, in 2011 a new book about earth banks in forests has been published in the practical series of Probos. These efforts have contributed greatly to increasing the attention for cultural history in forest management resulting in an increased enthusiasm among many forest managers about this topic. As a part of this project the next step will be publishing an inventory guide in the mentioned practical guide. This guide will serve as practical manual for forest managers for setting up and carrying out a cultural historical inventory and the additional research into the existing elements. The Dutch version will be translated into French, German and English and will be partly adjusted with examples from French, German and English speaking countries.

Information

Expert(s) involved: Mark van Benthem, Martijn Boosten, Patrick Jansen & Casper de Groot
Client(s): PEFC Collaboration Fund & Province of Gelderland
Year(s): 2011 - 2012