Ladies and gentlemen, I warmly welcome you to this wonderful anniversary celebration.
It is my pleasure and honor to deliver the commemorative address today—and first, I would like to extend a special welcome to several distinguished guests:
Mayor Stephan Hinz
; Ms. Friederike Ahlmeier, Head of the Forestry Office; and Deputy Director Nicole Fischer
; the concept developer and creator of the mascot “LENNY,” graphic designer Ms. Linda Söhn from the Natural History Museum—as well as forester Ms. Mareike Alicke, who created
the wooden sculpture “LENNY” with a chainsaw; Mr. Alexander Metz of HolzImPuls, who, as a carpenter, brought the museum’s exhibition ideas to life and supports
us as a sponsor; the other sponsors: the Budenheimer Volksbank Foundation, pharmacist Dr. Christian Becker, N’Eis, and the Gille family from the Budenheimer Terrassen
; Dr. Wolfgang Licht, representing the interdisciplinary research project at the University of Mainz from 1987 to 1990 on the Lenneberg Forest ecosystem and subsequently a long-time contributor to the conservation plan for the Lenneberg Forest
; Mr. Hans-Jürgen Dechent, a long-time habitat manager for the limestone fly-sand areas between Mainz and Bingen, which include
the Lenneberg Forest; Mr. Markus Allendorf, 2nd chairman of the Hiking and Lenneberg Association and, at the same time, the great-grandson of the association’s founder, Adam Allendorf, who was
also the builder of the Lenneberg Tower; the representatives of the Catholic and Protestant Churches—Sigrid Krämer, Andrea Beiner, and Stefan Volkmann, as well as representatives of the fire departments
; representatives of the nature conservation organizations closely associated with the Lenneberg Forest—NABU, BUND, GNOR, the Mombach Environmental Working Group, and the German Forest
Protection Association; the current and former employees of the Special-Purpose Association and the Forestry Office; the forestry contractors working in the Lenneberg Forest and their families—whom we deliberately invited, because they support—or have
supported—our staff day in and day out in their responsible and, at times, dangerous work in the forest; the members of the Special-Purpose Association Assembly present here; the volunteers working in the Lenneberg Forest and interested citizens
; and the representatives of the press present here.
A warm welcome to all of you, dear friends of the Lenneberg Forest, dear guests!
When you walk through the Lenneberg Forest today, you see one thing above all else: trees.
But upon closer inspection, you see much, much more: traces of wars,
a forest steeped in history
, dunes carried here by the wind millennia ago, and a forest that has been used, altered, damaged, and rebuilt time and again.
And sometimes you see things you wouldn’t even think of as part of the forest’s history: an old ammunition bunker, a bomb crater—or the building that is now our wonderful “Green House.”
The Lenneberg Forest is a forest with a history.
Today we’re celebrating a very special part of that history: 75 years of the Lenneberg Forest Conservation Association.
Today we’re celebrating the decision to preserve this forest. And that wasn’t a given.
Let’s go back for a moment to the year 1951:
Mainz is still deeply scarred by the war. Housing is scarce. The need is great. And at the same time, this forest is up for sale.
The Decision in 1951
The Waldthausen family wants to sell the land. This raises a question that seems obvious to us today, but was anything but obvious back then:
What is this forest worth—and why should it be preserved?
On April 1, 1951, the City of Mainz and the then-counties of Mainz and Bingen founded the special-purpose association and purchased the endangered forest areas. This secured about one-third of the entire forest.
500,000 marks were raised for this purpose.
And this, too, is a remarkable story: The special-purpose association did not actually have the money itself at the time. A wood-processing company from Bingen had to advance the funds. The money was later repaid with timber deliveries from the Lenneberg Forest.
Forest conservation was not a given back then. It was a conscious decision.
The people who made that decision could not have known what the forest would look like 75 years later. But they knew one thing: Once this forest is gone, it won’t simply come back.
And that is why the founding of the special-purpose association remains, to this day, a stroke of good fortune for Mainz, for the region—and for all the people who love this forest.
Of course, the history of the Lenneberg Forest did not begin in 1951.
It stretches back thousands of years. People left their first traces here some 15,000 years ago.
The forest has seen a great deal. The Romans were here. The Franks were here. Charlemagne hunted in the region. Charcoal burners produced charcoal. Sheep and goats grazed in the forest. Soldiers marched through it. And today, people of all ages come here to take walks, hike, or jog.
15,000 Years of History
The forest has changed time and again. But despite all these changes, one thing remains constant:
We depend on this forest—and we bear responsibility for it.
This responsibility has been put to the test time and again over the past 75 years.
In the early decades, the main focus was on restoring the forest, which had been damaged by war and logging.
In the 1970s, recreational use was introduced—with playgrounds, shelters, benches, a nature trail, and a fitness trail.
In the 1980s, forest dieback and environmental pollution took center stage. Nitrogen inputs and acid rain took a toll on the forest, compounded by wildfires, bark beetles, and other damage.
Research and nature conservation gained in importance.
75 Years of Commitment and Responsibility
In 1996, the entire Lenneberg Forest became a nature reserve; later, it was designated as a Habitat Directive (FFH) and bird sanctuary.
Looking back over these 75 years, a clear evolution emerges:
− In 1951, the focus was on preserving the forest.
− Then the focus shifted to restoring it.
− Later, the emphasis increasingly turned to understanding and protecting it.
− And today, the goal is to prepare it for a changing future.
About one million people visit the forest every year. This makes it one of the most visited forests in Germany.
People take walks here. They go jogging here. Children play here. School classes learn here. And for many people in Mainz and the surrounding region, the Lenneberg Forest is home.
A Forest for 1 Million People
After all, a forest with a million visitors cannot simply be left to its own devices.
It must be protected, remain accessible, and serve as a habitat for rare species.
The conservation and restoration of the forest must be balanced with nature conservation and local recreation.
Balance. That is perhaps one of the most important words for the future of the Lenneberg Forest.
Today, this balance is being put to the test by a major new challenge: climate change.
The wildfires of the past few weeks have once again made it clear to us what we already observed from 2018 to 2020: Extreme drought. Heat. Storms.
Climate change
. Snow-related tree breakage. Bark beetles. The highest risk of wildfire.
And that is why we, too—the special-purpose association formed in 1998 by the City of Mainz and the municipality of Budenheim—must make decisions today that will shape the future.
The goal is to make the forest more resilient to heat and drought, to increase the proportion of diverse deciduous forests, and at the same time to preserve its unique natural character.
That is why intensive research is currently being conducted in the Lenneberg Forest.
On long-term observation plots, we are working with scientific institutions to investigate which native tree species can cope with warmer and drier conditions.
The insights gained from our forest can later help other forests as well.
This is a special role for a forest right on the outskirts of Mainz.
But knowledge alone is not enough. People need to understand why this forest is so special.
And that’s why I’m very pleased that we’re able to open the new exhibition space here at the Grünen Haus today. I’m very grateful to the Natural History Museum for its cooperation and support.
About 120 events take place in the Lenneberg Forest every year. Schools, daycare centers, and families come here to experience the forest.
This is more than just information. It’s a passion for nature. And passion is often the first step toward taking responsibility.
So when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Zweckverband today, we’re not just celebrating an institution.
We are celebrating people. People who made decisions. People who worked out in the forest, people who researched, planned, and educated others.
The forest as a place
of learning: Thanks to the many people who maintain trails, plant trees, monitor areas, organize events, and inform visitors.
Many of you are here today. Our thanks go out to all of you.
Because a forest grows slowly. But forest conservation requires people who work on it every day.
In 1951, the founders of the Special-Purpose Association made a decision for the future.
Today, we are once again faced with such a decision. Back then, the goal was to preserve this forest from being used for other purposes. Today, the goal is to help it navigate a time of changing climate and environmental conditions.
The challenge is different. The responsibility remains the same.
Moving forward
together And we can only shoulder this responsibility together.
Together with the people who live here. Together with the people who work here. Together with science, forestry, and nature conservation. And together with everyone who simply loves this forest.
Perhaps some of you still remember Luigi, the wolf who was killed on the A60 in 2020 and is now on display at the Natural History Museum. His story is connected to our present in a special way: after about 200 years, a wolf reappeared in our region. This wolf reminds us that nature changes; that species come and go. That boundaries aren’t as fixed as we humans draw them on a map.
We don’t know which animals will be roaming the Lenneberg Forest in 25, 50, or 75 years. But we can decide today what kind of forest we will leave behind for them.
That is our task. And it is our shared responsibility.
Luigi the Wolf and Conclusion
And that is why, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, I wish the Lenneberg Forest Conservation Association continued courage to make good decisions.
So that many people can continue to say in the future: This forest is a gift.
Congratulations on your 75th anniversary!