Bewirtschaften

Bewirtschaften is a German verb meaning to manage and use land, resources, or facilities in an organized, productive manner. It covers activities from farming and cultivation to operating a business or employing natural resources, depending on the context. The related noun Bewirtschaftung refers to the process or state of such management.

Etymology: The term comes from be- plus wirtschaften, related to Wirtschaft (economy, management). It emphasizes purposeful planning and stewardship rather than mere use.

Usage and contexts: In agriculture and forestry, bewirtschaften refers to cultivating land and managing natural resources, as in farming fields or sustainably managing a forest. In resource management and environmental planning, it can denote the sustainable use of water, soil, minerals, and other resources. In a business context, it can mean to run or operate a company or project, although words like betreiben or führen are also common.

Grammatical notes: Bewirtschaften is a transitive verb; its objects are typically in the accusative (e.g., eine Fläche bewirtschaften). The past participle is bewirtschaftet, which forms compound tenses with haben.

See also: Bewirtschaftung, Landwirtschaft, Forstwirtschaft, Ressourcenmanagement, nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung.