Press release, Göttingen, May 6, 2026
Around 200 forest owners, as well as specialists and executives from forestry, science, public administration and practice, gathered today, Wednesday, for the 4th LIECO Forum at the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz in Göttingen. The full-day event focused on the question of how forestry enterprises can be positioned for the future in view of climate change, economic pressure and technological progress.
“Understanding change as an opportunity and putting self-empowerment at the center – that is our intention for the 4th LIECO Forum,” said Oliver Hilpold, CEO of THE LIECO COMPANY, as he opened the event and addressed management approaches for forestry operations. “Efficiency begins with knowledge. Anyone who manages their forest purely ‘by instinct’ fails to use existing potential and loses money. (…) Without data, there is no management.”
Moderated by Alexa von Busse, distinguished speakers discussed current challenges and solution-oriented approaches from three key perspectives: business management, digitalization, and education and implementation.
Business Management Perspectives for the Forestry Enterprise of Tomorrow
Dr. Moritz Freiherr von Blomberg (BB Göttingen GmbH) illustrated which business management levers forestry enterprises can use to remain resilient in the long term. One key takeaway was: “Subsidies are not a business objective.” Prof. Dr. Markus Ziegeler (HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Göttingen) highlighted opportunities and risks associated with forest conversion and climate protection measures in the context of economic requirements, emphasizing the importance of appropriate political framework conditions. Providing a practical perspective, Dr. Christian Wippermann (Fürst Wallerstein GmbH & Co. KG) offered insights into a traditional forestry enterprise undergoing transformation, stating: “It’s all about the mix – managing with what is given while creating silvicultural options for the next generation.”
Digitalization as a Key to the Forest of the Future
Prof. Dr. Thomas Purfürst (TU Dresden) outlined a vision of the fully digitalized forestry operation and emphasized the potential of value creation through data in forestry.
Prof. Dr. Arne Nothdurft (BOKU University Vienna) demonstrated how reference forests can help build trust in models and data. “Forecasts of forest conditions require the courage to deliver uncertainties as well. Once a model becomes a map, we tend to regard it as the absolute truth.” A best-practice example was presented by Lucas von Fürstenberg (Freiherr von Fürstenberg Forestry Administration), who showed how openness to new technologies and ways of thinking can create tangible added value in forestry operations.
Education, Implementation and Generational Change
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to people. Thilo Wagner (State Enterprise Forest and Timber NRW) spoke about the education of tomorrow’s forestry professionals – the “Generation Z—ukunftswald.” Christoph Deselaers (Forst ID) advocated pragmatic entry points into digitalization and introduced the concept of “QuickStart Digitalization.” “Digitalization in forestry is not about technology – it’s about people.” The perspective of the younger generation was brought in by Johanna Werk (German Forestry Association), who addressed the expectations and challenges facing the next generation of foresters.
Joint Conclusion: Bringing Perspectives Together – Shaping the Future
The forum concluded with the panel “Make Wald great again: Bringing Perspectives Together – Shaping the Future,” hosted by Philipp Freiherr von Oldershausen (Oldershausen Hofos GmbH) and Oliver Hilpold (THE LIECO COMPANY).
Change is driven by leadership, prudence, and an open, growth-oriented mindset. It is actively initiated, responsibly shaped in the interests of owners, and translated—through a consistent stakeholder management approach—into solution-oriented, partnership-based collaboration with industry, for example through product-integrated compensation as a strategic future deal.
The 4th LIECO Forum impressively demonstrated that the future of forestry can only succeed through the interaction of economic viability, digital innovation, and well-trained people – and that personal exchange plays a central role in this process.
