Germany continues to face “dramatic” decline of tree population – researchers
Clean Energy Wire
The tree population in Germany continues to decline “dramatically,” said the German Aerospace Center (DLR) after an analysis of satellite images of the country's forest. More than 900,000 hectares of tree cover have been lost since the end of 2017, roughly equal to 8.5 percent of Germany's total forest area. This "worrying trend" is likely to continue in the coming years, DLR said.
The researchers used satellite data to record the forest canopy in Germany to gather information on causes for tree losses and develop countermeasures. They found that pure stands of spruce, pine, and beech are particularly at risk. “Mixed forests, on the other hand, are more resilient and offer better risk distribution,” the researchers said.
Recurring droughts, heat waves, and storms have taken a toll on Germany's forests in recent years. Stressed trees are also more susceptible to insect infestations, causing them to die off or necessitating emergency felling in many places. According to the agriculture ministry's forest condition assessment from 2025, four out of five trees of the most common species – spruce, pine, beech and oak – are damaged.
Germany’s forests are needed to combat climate change as they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. They are also essential for climate adaptation efforts, to bring down temperatures in baking cities, boost biodiversity, and aid with rainwater drainage. However, another agriculture ministry report released in late 2024 found that the country’s forests had become net carbon emitters rather than carbon sinks.
