Facts and Figures

Arnsberg is situated within the greater district of the Hochsauerlandkreis (HSK) in the northern Sauerland and the regional surroundings of the south-eastern Ruhr area. With around 78,000 inhabitants, Arnsberg is spread across 15 quarters and it is the largest town in HSK. Of the surface area of 194km² over 60% are covered by woodlands and forest which makes Arnsberg one of the most forest-rich cities in Germany.

Over 600km of flowing water cross the municipality; 40% of the surface area are of value to the European community according to the EU Natura 2000, and over 50% are designated landscape conservation areas. Finally there are 37 nature reserves in Arnsberg, covering more than 5,600 hectares.

With c. 58%, spruce is the most common tree species, followed by beech (18%) and oak (9%). The percentage of deciduous trees in the council forest with 56% (beech 40%, oak 16%) does, however, lie significantly above the average.

In 2005, the City of Arnsberg and the Centre for Forest Ecosystems at the University of Münster worked in co-operation to develop a cluster-study in the sector of woodlands, forestry and timber industry in order to highlight the importance and meaning of the forest in the region.

• With over 60% of its land surface covered by woodlands, Arnsberg is one of the most woodland-rich cities in Germany; the cover of interconnected woodlands and its wood-based resources are hence particular strengths of the municipality

• There are over 240 businesses and institutions, employing a total of around 2,500 people, in Arnsberg’s cluster “Forest and Timber”

• With a yearly minimum turnover of 475 Mio. Euro, this cluster is of great socio-economic and political importance for the City of Arnsberg and its surrounding region

• At the local level, the city shows a high potential in terms of networking between these businesses and institutions within this cluster and hence for a common marketing campaign