For 40 years now, forest soils in Saxony have been limed—and even now, helicopters are once again in the air, spreading lime over forests between the Vogtland and Saxon Switzerland. Why is this aerial liming still necessary even after four decades?
Why are forests being limed?
This measure combats acidic soils in the low mountain ranges. These acidic soils are a consequence of decades of air pollution from industrial emissions. “Soil protection liming is still necessary to repair the damage caused in the past to Saxony’s forests,” explained State Forestry President Utz Hempfling. The program began in 1986.
