
Jacob Kruijer has been the land and real estate manager since 1996.
“The Maatschappij van Weldadigheid (Society of Benevolence) likes to play a pioneering role, also when it comes to climate-smart forest management”
The Boschoord estate is part of the property of the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid. A part of this forest area has now been set up as an example forest for the European LIFE Climate Forest project. Manager Jacob Kruijer: “The Company has already played a pioneering role in many other areas and now also when it comes to climate-smart forest management.”
The Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, which receives many visitors since its UNESCO status, owns approximately 1,300 hectares of land. This is spread over various areas and estates. In addition to the cultural heritage and the new visitor center, there is forest, heathland, nature and agricultural land. Bosgroep Noord-Oost Nederland supports the ‘Maatschappij’ in the management of the various forest and nature areas.
Jacob Kruijer has been land and real estate manager at the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid since 1996. He has enthusiastically joined this European LIFE project by Staatsbosbeheer and de Bosgroepen: “We received a message from the Province of Drenthe via Martijn Jansen, our regular contact at the Bosgroep and also the point of contact for forest management. The province supports LIFE Climate Forest and they thought our ‘Maatschappij’ was a good option to participate as a demonstration forest. Together with Martijn Jansen we thought about it carefully. Although we have the same thoughts about forests, he knows a little more about it than I do. We soon became positive. The ‘Maatschappij’ has been a pioneer in many things. Education, health insurance, elderly care… so we wanted to take on that role of pioneer again here.”

Since its UNESCO status, this area receives many visitors.
Gain new knowledge
“Boschoord Estate is a special sub-area on the southern flank of the Drents-Friese Wold. It is 650 hectares in size and consists largely of forest. With Climate Forest we mainly focus on improving the nature quality on the estate. The 30 hectares in which we are now participating also serves as an example for the rest of our forests. We can later use all the knowledge we gain in our demo forest in the other parts. That is also desperately needed. We have noticed a lot of climate changes, especially in recent dry years. It actually started in 2018. That’s when we also had a lot of problems with the typesetter. We had to harvest about 1200 cubic meters. After the wet period last year we thought that the sparrows would not be too bad, but even then it was still 50 cubic meters. Our forests consist of 25% Norway spruce, the favorite food of the typesetter, but 25% of the total… that’s quite a lot when you add it all up. We know that if we do nothing, everything will die. That is why we now have to look further and manage our forests in a climate-smart way.”
Reaal experience
“Why exactly did we choose this part of Boschoord? Actually, they already came with it from the province. They know our forest area very well and this location is also easily accessible; it is located exactly opposite the parking lot of the municipality of Westerveld. In addition to accessibility, there are already several trees in this demo forest. There is Norway spruce, larch, Douglas fir, there is rejuvenation, new plantings… Within the LIFE project we are now looking at how we can organize the demo forest in such a way that it can cope with the coming climate challenges. For example, if you look at the tables now, you will see that the Norway spruce is growing out of the curve. So we have to think of something about that and see where we can introduce other greenery that is climate smarter. It is not the case that things are going badly everywhere with Norway spruces. It is therefore very important to really look into the forest and see what is really happening.”
“Those new tree species that fit within Cimate Forest, that’s quite a list. I coordinate the choice of tree species together with Martijn. In any case, it is a mix of: good for the climate, rich litter and suitable for wood production. This then amounts to a mixture of 5-6 tree species within one hectare and that variation is good against the effects of diseases and pests, better for litter digestion and more ecologically valuable. Everything fits together and you have to look at many different facets in your forest at the same time. I also learned this at the course for forest managers organized by LIFE Climate Forest.”
Course for forest managers
“I found the course ‘Climate-smart forest management for forest managers’ extremely interesting. During those three days there were speakers who were able to share so much knowledge. That really got me excited. What I remember most is that you also have to pay attention to litter decomposition and that you need other tree species for that.”
“It is important that you look carefully at your hydrology, soil compaction, litter, mineral balance, soil life and risk spreading by using different tree species. I have an agricultural education myself and from there I already knew that the soil is very important. Thanks to LIFE Climate Forest, I am now learning much more and how we can actually do something with it in practice.”
Valuable insights
“It is important for us to participate in LIFE Climate Forest. We get a lot of inspiration, knowledge, experiences and new insights from it. That is necessary, because if we want to preserve our forests for the next generation, we have to act now. The trees that are there now will not be there forever and we therefore have to work on rejuvenation in time. And while we are already working on that, we can also look at other species. We now have to spread the risk, because we simply don’t know what exactly will come our way.”
“It is important for us to participate in LIFE Climate Forest. We get a lot of inspiration, knowledge, experiences and new insights from it. That is necessary, because if we want to preserve our forests for the next generation, we have to act now. The trees that are there now will not be there forever and we therefore have to work on rejuvenation in time. And while we are already working on that, we can also look at other species. We now have to spread the risk, because we simply don’t know what exactly will come our way.”
Curious about this example forest and the measures taken in the context of LIFE Climate Forest?