Paper short abstract:

Using heimat as an interpretive approach for explaining the German forest, this paper depicts human personal relations with the forest at regional context to measure that preserving forest means protecting nation, where human-forest attachment is culturally and psychologically rooted.

Paper long abstract:

Positioning the forest as a soul for the Germans, this study explores human personal relations with the forest. Examining within the concept of heimat (homeland), human attachment to the forest is identified on two factors; territoriality and emotional ties (sense of belonging). On territoriality factor, heimat stimulates connections between individuals and daily actions in the practice of forest use in Freiburg. Meanwhile, the emotional factor manifests the meaning of forest, in which the individuals absorb it personally, often due to deep connections, memory reproduction, and love of the forest. In this study, the findings of heimat discourse in the German forest is gathered through ethnographic research methods that conducted at the WaldHaus, Freiburg. Functionally, socio-cultural and ecological aspects have contributed to the formation of human actions and relations for nurturing the forest at WaldHaus. The idea of German forests and their identity characteristics, directly and indirectly expressed by the Freiburg society through environmental perceptions (calm, sense of home, freedom and energy) and daily activities (recreation, relaxation, escaping from the city and participating in one of the programs) at WaldHaus.

Key Words: attachment, Heimat, German forest, German soul, the practice of forest use