May I collect branches and wood in the forest (for firewood, construction wood, carving wood)

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👉 The key facts from this guide

We campers, bushcrafters and outdoor enthusiasts love the campfire and need firewood for our camp.

But are you allowed to simply collect branches and sticks in the forest?

Is it allowed to take wood from the forest?

This question I want to clarify now, let's start and shed light on the matter!

Who owns the trees and the wood?

The forest is not a lawless space and there are rules that bushcrafters and survivalists must follow.

Basically, the trees and the wood in a forest belong to the landowner.

I know, that sounds crazy. I used to think that many forests belong to no one. But the fact is, every German forest actually has an owner!

Owner can be:

• the municipality
• a private forest owner
• a municipality / city
• the federal state
• universities
• churches
• the federal government

And not only the trees belong to the owner, but also everything else in the forest (e.g. pine cones, mushrooms, bark, feathers, antlers, plants).

Another important point for us forest rangers:
dead wood on the ground and on the tree (deadwood) belongs to the owner.

Deadwood is an important component in nature conservation and is intentionally left to create good topsoil. Additionally, it serves as a valuable habitat for small animals. You see: deadwood is also needed. Next, we will clarify whether you are allowed to collect deadwood from trees or on the ground.

Am I allowed to collect wood in the forest?

And there are exceptions for the "reading wood".

In the following table, the laws (mainly the state forest laws) are listed with an indication of whether you are allowed to collect wood (firewood) in your state.

Attention!

• Firewood from private forests may only be taken with permission!
• If collecting firewood is allowed, it may only be used and taken from state forests!

State and Law	Statement on Wood Collection, as of September 2019
Baden-Württemberg: LWaldG BW	§ 40 Appropriation of forest fruits and plants, Para. 1: Everyone is allowed to appropriate forest fruits, litter, and firewood to a customary extent and forest plants, especially flowers and herbs that do not exceed a bouquet. The appropriation must be done with care. The collection of branches from forest trees and shrubs up to the amount of a bouquet is not punishable. This does not apply to the collection of branches in forest plantations and of top shoots, as well as the uprooting of forest trees and shrubs.
Bavaria: Firewood Ordinance in the Bavarian State Forest	The Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry allows, under the following restrictions, anyone to appropriate firewood for personal use in forests solely owned by the Free State of Bavaria. Firewood in the context of this announcement is a) wood that has fallen naturally to the ground in the forest, dry or rotten, not intended for sale, b) wood or brushwood left behind after processing by the forest owner or their representatives, not intended for sale, c) bark and cones lying on the ground.
Berlin: LWaldG B	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited!
Brandenburg: LWaldG BB	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited!
Bremen: BremWaldG	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited!
Hamburg: LWaldG HH	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited!
Hesse: HWaldG	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: § 31 Appropriation of Forest Products	§ 31 Appropriation of Forest Products, Para. 4: Wood may be collected in state forests for personal use if it is fallen to the ground, dry or rotten wood under ten centimeters in diameter, as long as proper forestry practices are not endangered.
Lower Saxony: NWaldLG	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited.
North Rhine-Westphalia: LFoG NRW	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited.
Rhineland-Palatinate: LWaldG RLP	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited.
Saarland: LWaldG SL	No specific regulation. Wood collection without permission is prohibited.
Saxony: Forest law for Saxony	§ 14 Appropriation of forest fruits, flowers and herbs, paragraph 1: Wild flowers, grasses, and ferns can be taken for personal use (hand bouquet). The same applies to the removal of harvest wood, mushrooms, herbs, mosses, berries, and other wild fruits. The removal must be carried out carefully.
Saxony-Anhalt: LWaldG SA	No special regulation. Collecting wood without a permit is prohibited.
Schleswig-Holstein: LWaldG SH	No special regulation. Collecting wood without a permit is prohibited.
Thuringia: ThürWaldG	§ 15 Secondary forestry uses and appropriation of forest products, paragraph 4: The collection of dry or rotten harvest wood is permitted in the state forest.

Conclusion: If you now live in a federal state that does not have a specific regulation, strictly speaking, you need a permit.

So you have to be prepared that - when push comes to shove - you will be held accountable.

But keep reading and we will clarify how the situation looks if you collect branches without permission.

What does the practice look like?

Attention, I am not a legal expert and I am only sharing my experience with you here. You are acting at your own risk, see my Disclaimer.

Here is my experience: Fallen branches, bark, and wood on the ground can be collected in small quantities for personal use. Most foresters or landowners will not have a problem with this. However, make sure it is only small amounts and that they are intended for your own use. As a bushcrafter, you should follow the "handful rule". This means approximately 1-2 handfuls.

Can I collect dry wood from trees? Can you take deadwood from the forest?

We bushcrafters love the dry and dead wood on the trunks of trees. As you surely know, this is also the driest wood you can find on wet days. The wood on the ground is unusable in the rain.

What about this wood? Are you allowed to saw or break it?

No, unfortunately I have to disappoint you. You are not allowed to collect this wood. Because tearing off branches is not allowed. Reading wood is only wood that has fallen off the tree itself.

Am I allowed to cut down trees (e.g. for my shelter)?

No, not without permission.

Felling and removing trees in forests and nature reserves is an offense.

For cutting down trees, you may face a fine of up to 50,000 euros (for example, a tree in Hamburg, Source). For multiple trees, the fine can even be up to 100,000 €.

If you also take the tree out of the forest, you are committing a crime (theft) and can expect to be reported.

What is wood theft?

Wood theft is when you collect and take wood on a large scale without a wood collection permit from the forest.

This theft is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Foresters and police equip felled trees with a GPS transmitter embedded in the wood. The signal immediately sends an alarm if the transmitter is set in motion.

Wood theft is a huge problem in Germany. The damage amounts to approximately 1 million euros per year.

More Information on Laws

I recommend that you also familiarize yourself with other laws and get an overview.

Here are my recommendations for advice articles:

• Overview: Is Bushcraft legal? [Fire, Camping, Camp, Hunting, Fishing]
• Is a fire allowed in the forest? (in Germany)
• Is sleeping in the forest allowed? [Penalties and Alternatives]
• Can I hunt animals and build traps? (in Germany)

Summary

You are probably wondering now what is actually legal in Germany, right? Can you as a bushcrafter/survivalist actively pursue and train your hobby?

Your questions are valid, because strictly speaking, it is forbidden to collect wood. Unless you are lucky and live in one of the federal states where you are allowed to collect firewood.

In all other federal states, you need a permit or have to hope that the owner, the forester, or the supervisor will allow the collection and use of deadwood.

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What do you think of the laws in Germany? Are they justified, if one imagines that everyone could collect wood in the forest without any limits?

Or are the laws exaggerated and is much too bureaucratic?

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