Zone Asserbos

_{^{title: Zone Asserbos
location: Sterrenbos, Assen, Nederland
material: Woolblend and artificial fibers
project: The Forest of Assen
date: 2021}}

THE FOREST OF ASSEN

The Forest of Assen represents an artistic landscape research into the Asserbos, a forest that is intertwined with the local inhabitants of Assen and global climate change. Humans demand much from the forest, harboring economic, environmental, cultural, and recreational interests and ideals. But the question remains: how does the Asserbos itself react to the cultivation activities of humans?

In this Anthropocene era of increasingly unpredictable climate, the significance of forests is ever more apparent. Trees act as carbon sinks, mitigating the warming effects on Earth. Forests are cherished not only as spaces for recreational walks but also for their biodiversity and ecological importance. Much of the Dutch’ forests, including Asserbos, were shaped and nurtured by human hands. The history of this cultivation is evident in the human traces found within Asserbos.

The Asserbos is a star-shaped forest. This is due to the rational expansion in the 18th century with many straight and intersecting avenues. Subsequent interventions have expanded the avenues and paths structure to such an extent that a closely woven walking network was eventually created.

Bark beetles

Sometimes trees disappear from places where they were previously planted. This is often due to feeding by the Ips typographus. This small beetle lays its eggs in tunnels under the bark of coniferous trees. The small, twisted tunnels on the bark weaken the trees, causing them to collapse during the first major storm. Forest managers often cut down to prevent further spread of the beetle. This is how empty zones are created in forests.

In Europe, forest damage caused by this bark beetle, in addition to normal storm damage and fire, is a major problem. The droughts cause an increase in bark beetles, which attack large forests of Norway spruce.

Zone Asserbos, hiking map with route, 4,5,km. through the Asserbos can be purchased at the Drents museum, Boekhandel van der Velde, Assen and the tourist office.

This project is supported by the Province of Drenthe.