News

11.04.2026: Inauguration of the cross-border hiking trail Hřensko - Schmilka with national park guides

On April 11, 2026, the new cross-border hiking trail between Hřensko and Schmilka was officially opened. The approximately three-kilometer route connects the Bohemian Switzerland and Saxon Switzerland National Parks and offers a nature-oriented alternative to the previous path along the road. Following extensive environmental assessments, the trail was created outside sensitive core zones and is now open to hikers year-round. (25.3.2026)

19.03.2026: Nearly 20 volunteers are working on the mountain forest project at the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration to promote near-natural forests

In March 2026, around 20 volunteers took part in a Bergwaldprojekt initiative in the forests of Saxon Switzerland. They supported the national park and forestry administration with maintenance and planting work, including planting alder trees along streams, clearing space for vital trees, and maintaining forest edges. The goal is to promote the transformation toward near-natural, climate-resilient mixed forests and to protect ecosystems. At the same time, the project raises awareness of environmental and sustainability issues and helps participants better understand the importance of forests through hands-on work and educational activities. (19.3.2026)

02.02.2026: Meeting of the cross-border scientific council for the national parks of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland

At a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland National Parks in Bad Schandau, researchers exchanged the latest findings from monitoring and research projects. Topics included biodiversity in the areas affected by forest fires in 2022, cross-border red deer monitoring, the spread of the fire salamander and the status of the rare liverwort Hygrobiella laxifolia. Studies show that many rare species occur in the burned areas, including some that appear specifically after forest fires. The cross-border advisory board, made up of German and Czech experts, coordinates research and monitoring in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and meets regularly to exchange findings and plan future projects. (02.02.2026)

16.01.2026: Special forest management for a special forest near Hohnstein am Brand in the national park

In the fire area near Hohnstein in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, forests in the so-called maintenance area are being specifically managed to preserve species-rich and near-natural mixed forests. Foresters are promoting particularly rare tree species such as silver fir, oak, maple and lime, and are creating more light for young trees through careful thinning. The work is carried out gently with foresters and logging horses to protect the soil and young trees. At the same time, dangerous trees along paths are removed, deadwood is preserved as habitat and residual wood is collected to reduce the risk of forest fires. (16.1.2026)

31.12.2025: 165,000 trees and shrubs planted in the Saxon Switzerland National Park region

By 2025, the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration will have planted around 165,000 trees and shrubs on 78 hectares of state forest and in the national park's maintenance area. The aim is to convert the forest into diverse, structured and climate-stable mixed forests. Among other species, fir, beech, maple, oak, pine and larch were planted, as well as alders along streams and various shrubs for species-rich forest edges. The plantings also serve to reforest areas affected by bark beetles, enhance wetland habitats and protect against forest fires. The measures complement the natural regeneration of the forest and continue the long-term forest conversion in the region. (30.12.2025)

26.11.2025: Cross-border workshop of the Interreg TransForMon project

On 26 November 2025, the first cross-border workshop of the Interreg project TransForMon took place in Litoměřice. Representatives of scientific institutions from Charles University Prague and TU Dresden, as well as national park administrations, came together to discuss the project's achievements to date and future work. The programme included the presentation of the new publicly accessible TransForMon web portal, an insight into the created data catalogue, which mainly contains orthophotos and aerial photographs of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland dating back to the 1950s, and the database on forest projects that have taken place in the two national parks, as well as reports on current and future UAV and botanical data collection.

The second part of the workshop focused on the next steps of the project. Planned work on analysing forest development and forest health, virtual forest walks and the establishment of a cross-border data portal for national park administrations was presented. Concepts for greater involvement of local groups such as schools, local initiatives and organisations were also discussed. Finally, the lead project partner presented initial ideas for an action plan for cross-border communication with the public in the national parks and for a cross-border strategy for the collection, harmonisation and exchange of forest data in the national parks.

The first face-to-face meeting between the project partners was particularly beneficial. The direct exchange and lively discussions created a very constructive atmosphere and proved to be productive for the next steps in the project. The workshop ended with important impetus for the continuation of the collaboration in 2026 and 2027. (26.11.2025)

14.11.2025: Forestry work has begun in Viehleite – measures for tree health and local recreation

The town of Pirna is carrying out forestry work on the edge of the Viehleite forest, primarily removing spruce trees damaged by bark beetles and at risk of breaking. The aim of the thinning is to maintain the deciduous forest and promote species and structural diversity in order to create climate-resilient forests. The work is being supported by the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration and is expected to take around four weeks. During this time, there may be restrictions for hikers, noise and possible damage to forest paths, which will be repaired later. (14.11.2025)

Monitoring-Programme

Modern monitoring methods now provide valuable insights into ecological changes in the region. A key element is the cross-border INTERREG project ‘TransForMon’, which establishes standardised forest monitoring using remote sensing in the Saxon-Bohemian forests. Wildlife is also under close observation: Since 2024, the administration has been participating in the nationwide monitoring programme of the German Ornithologists' Association (DDA), which specifically records the populations of woodpeckers and small owls such as pygmy owls and Tengmalm's owls. In the REDEMA research project, red deer and grey wolves are also being fitted with GPS collars to analyse their migratory movements and their impact on forest regeneration. Even the smallest inhabitants are not forgotten: camera traps and tracking tunnels are used to search for rare dormice such as the hazel dormouse or the lost garden dormouse. This extensive data serves as the basis for effective wildlife and forest management.

• Sources: Newsletter SandsteinSchweizer 1-2025, 3-2025, 9-2025, 12-2025, 2-2026, 3-2026.

Forest damage and hazards

Climate change is putting forests under severe strain due to drought and extreme weather conditions. Following the massive damage caused by heat and bark beetles in 2018/2019, the focus is now on quickly combating new infestations. To stop the beetles from spreading, infested wood is quickly removed or deposited in temporary storage sites at least 500 metres away from the nearest coniferous forest. Another major hazard is forest fires, which are being tackled with new forest fire protection concepts and the installation of modern sensors. Due to the humus-poor sandy soils and dry coniferous litter, there is often a high risk of fire throughout the year, which is why the strict ban on fires in the forest is regularly enforced by rangers and the police. In addition, cross-border deployment routes for the fire brigade are being upgraded and joint exercises with Czech partners are being carried out so that a rapid response is possible in an emergency. In addition to natural hazards, vandalism, such as damaged signs or defaced forest toilets, also places a strain on the administration and infrastructure for visitors.

• Sources: Newsletter SandsteinSchweizer 1-2025, 2-2025, 3-2025, 4-2025, 5-2025, 7-2025, 9-2025, 10-2025, 11-2025, 2-2026.

Forest development and conversion

In the Saxon Switzerland National Park region, intensive work is being done to ensure the future viability of the forests. While the principle of ‘letting nature be nature’ applies in the core zones of the national park, the ‘Path to Wilderness’ above Schmilka in particular shows how, after disturbances caused by storms, bark beetles or forest fires, a diverse natural forest with pioneer tree species such as birch and rowan is growing back on its own. To support this development, young trees are already competing vigorously for sunlight. Outside these quiet areas, forest managers are actively promoting the conversion to climate-stable mixed forests, with the goal of having at least ten different tree species growing side by side. As part of projects such as the ‘Mountain Forest Project’, species such as silver fir, red beech and black alder are being planted in a targeted manner. In order to protect the forest floor during these maintenance measures, modern technology such as cable cranes is used on difficult slopes, transporting the trunks upwards with almost no contact with the ground. In Nassen Grund, too, targeted removals of spruce trees are taking place in order to give the remaining trees more crown space and increase the stability of the stand.

• Sources: Newsletter SandsteinSchweizer 1-2025, 2-2025, 4-2025, 10-2025, 11-2025, 12-2025.