Tree of the year

Dr. Silvius Wodarz, the chairman of the commission for the Tree of the Year, disclosed the following to the jury in Berlin:

„The Silver Fir stands for natural sustainable forest management and shows the sensitivity of trees when confronted with environmental changes brought about by humans.  Like almost no other tree, the Silver Fir makes the adverse effects of air pollution obvious, and calls out for solutions.

Almost everybody recognizes the name „Fir Tree“, but this particular species is not known by many.  The Silver Fir grows to an impressive height.  A noticeable pull then develops in the crown of the tree.  The shoots in the tree top lose their dominance and the branches on the sides create a flat crown, also known as the „stork‘s nest“.  The Silver Fir is the tallest tree in Europe.  They can live up to 500 or 600 years.  The Silver Fir has a mighty root system.  At first it bores into the ground with a tap-root, which later develops into a strong root system.  In this way it reaches the deeper soil layers and grows to be very stable.

The bark, which is smooth while it is young, and later becomes scaly, is a noticeable light grey, and is the reason for its name.  The needles are soft and blunt.  They stand on tiny feet that stick to the branches like suction cups.  When rubbed between your fingers, the needles give off a wonderful aroma.  The Silver Fir gives off the scent of Turpentine Balsam.  The needles live about 10 years, and in the high mountain regions up to 14 years.  This is a record for coniferous trees.  When they die, they decompose well.  The beneficial substances in the tree make it a delicacy for wildlife.

The Silver Fir blooms late in its life, at about 50 years of age.  In the fall, the upright female cone blossoms, mature into pine cones that measure up to 16 cm. long .  These cones, unlike other conifers whose pinecones hang, stand upright on the branches.  The seeds fall out of the upright cone and sail to the earth.  All that‘s left then, is the empty spindle.  This is why we don‘t find any pinecones from the Silver Fir on the forest floor.

The young Silver Fir can tolerate a lot of shade and can wait up to 150 years to be kissed by the sun, after the older trees surrounding it have died or been felled.

The Silver Fir prefers humid areas with at least 600 mm of precipitation a year.  Its natural area of propagation is in the south-east and south-middle of Europe.

The Silver Fir is the species of tree with the strongest decline in population during the past 200 years.  90% of the original regions have been lost.  There are many reasons for this.  A big role was played when the Silver Fir migrated during the ice age.  The only way it could survive the ice ages was in smaller, separate groups which led to inbreeding and the loss of genes.  This is why today‘s trees have a diminished capacity to adapt.  The tree is susceptible and sensitive to drought, changes in the climate and air pollution.  Being chewed by red and roe deer is a big problem for the Silver Fir as well as clearings being cut, overuse, too much shade or sudden release, and the competition of the Spruce.  The damaged or injured trees produce an extremely high percentage of unproductive seeds.  One way to fight this is through bringing the isolated remaining trees together by planting and artificial pollination.   

The wood of the Silver Fir is easy to work.  It is used as building and construction wood, in interior fittings, for floorboards and furniture, as resonance wood in musical instruments, for roof shingles and lately for high-tech products like thermal wood and super lamellae.  

The tower of the cathedral in Fribourg has thousand year old fir frames inside.  Parts of Amsterdam are also said to stand on fir posts.  The famous roof at the expo in Hanover in the year 2000, was constructed from 70 strong Silver Firs.   

Silver Fir honey is a rare speciality.  The components in the needles lend herbal baths a unique scent.  The resin from the fir tree, also known as Alsace turpentine, was used in plasters and salves, and Fir Beer played an „intoxicating“ role in the middle ages.  And finally - „Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree…“  In Germany alone, almost 30 million fir trees are put up at Christmas time every year.  Very few of them are Silver Firs any more, but it actually did start with the Silver Fir.  The first documented Christmas tree was mentioned in 1539 when it stood in the cathedral in Strasbourg.  

The Fir tree was very significant to the ancient Germanic tribes because of its evergreen characteristics.   At the winter solstice, Fir tree branches were laid out in public places and in front of the houses.  

The Silver Fir, with its unique characteristics has become the focus of public attention.  

In 1908 Ludwig Klein said: „The Silver Fir is similar to the oak tree among the deciduous trees.  Its stature, age and mighty dimensions, make it the undisputed Queen of the Fir Trees.“