My - Your - No Forest

My forest - yours - no forest
"We in the forest" research project aims to help defuse conflicts in the forest

How can conflicts in local forests be defused? This important question for tourism in Sauerland and Siegen-Wittgenstein is currently being investigated by the research project "We in the forest" as part of interactive forest walks along the Rothaarsteig between Latrop and neighboring Bad Berleburg. In the coming year, this should result in handouts and communication strategies for foresters, tourism professionals and the many other stakeholders in order to resolve tensions more easily.

The project is a cooperation between the Stuttgart Media University (HdM), the Rottenburg Forestry College and the Lake Constance Foundation in Radolfzell. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In addition, 45 students are involved in the implementation and are responsible for the individual project modules.

The two interactive forest walks will take place on June 3 and 4, starting at 4 p.m. from the Latrop hiking parking lot. Two experts from forestry and nature conservation and from forestry and tourism will present different perspectives and engage in a dialog. Interested parties are cordially invited to take part in the walks on site in the forest or online (live streaming will be offered for this purpose) and join in the discussion. The online link will be announced via the project homepage and social media.

In addition, a fishbowl discussion, a special format for interactive exchange in larger groups, will take place on June 5 at Habbels in Schmallenberg. A small group of participants discussed the topic in an inner circle (the so-called "goldfish bowl" that gives the format its name), while the other participants observed the discussion in an outer circle. Additional free chairs also give the observing participants the opportunity to contribute to the discussion and drive the exchange forward. All information about the project can be found at https://wir-im-wald.de/.

Contact for the press:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Tel.: 02974-969830, e-mail: presse@sauerland.com