Editing Thuringia (section)

=== Nature and environment ===
[[File:Ruppberg Sonnenaufgang.jpg|thumb|right|[[Thuringian Forest]] in winter]]
[[File:WAK SEEB INSELSBG.jpg|thumb|right|[[Großer Inselsberg]]]]
Due to many centuries of intensive settlement, most of the area is shaped by human influence. The original natural vegetation of Thuringia is forest with [[Fagus sylvatica|beech]] as its predominant species, as can still be found in the [[Hainich]] mountains today. In the uplands, a mixture of beech and [[Picea abies|spruce]] would be natural. However, most of the plains have been cleared and are in intensive agricultural use while most of the forests are planted with spruce and [[Scots pine|pine]]. Since 1990, Thuringia's forests have been managed aiming for a more natural and tough vegetation more resilient to climate change as well as diseases and vermin. In comparison to the forest, agriculture is still quite conventional and dominated by large structures and monocultures. Problems here are caused especially by increasingly prolonged dry periods during the summer months.

Environmental damage in Thuringia has been reduced to a large extent after 1990. The condition of forests, rivers and air was improved by modernizing factories, houses (decline of coal heating) and cars, and contaminated areas such as the former [[Uranium]] surface mines around [[Ronneburg, Thuringia|Ronneburg]] have been remediated. Today's environmental problems are the salination of the [[Werra]] river, caused by discharges of [[K+S]] salt mines around [[Unterbreizbach]] and overfertilisation in agriculture, damaging the soil and small rivers.

Environment and nature protection has been of growing importance and attention since 1990. Large areas, especially within the forested mountains, are protected as natural reserves, including Thuringia's first national park within the [[Hainich National Park|Hainich]] mountains, founded in 1997, the [[Rhön Biosphere Reserve]], the [[Thuringian Forest Nature Park]] and the [[South Harz Nature Park]].