Forsten: new “wake -up call” for the stressed forests

Heat, drought, mushrooms and beetles are concerned with the German forests. Four out of five trees are also sick for the most common tree species, as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture announced after a new survey for 2024. Every second oak now has severe damage in the crown. Department chief Alois Rainer (CSU) spoke of a “renewed wake -up call”. Healthy, stable forests are also needed for the following generations. Therefore, investments are made in reforestation, a conversion of the forests and research.

“Our forests have permanent stress,” said Rainer. Unfortunately, the new condition survey does not give any all -clear. Despite the relatively favorable weather conditions in the past year, the damage continues to be “very high level”, as the report states. Older trees over 60 years are affected. Overall, compared to 2023, “no significant improvements” of the state had arisen, but also no significant deterioration. Many trees are still weakened from dry years since 2018.

How densely the leaves and the needles are is an indicator of health. The findings for 2024 show only small changes. “Significant” damage again had 36 percent of the trees across all types. Compared to healthy trees, more than a quarter of the Kahl kahl. The “warning level” with a weak crown aggravation of 11 to 25 percent now included 43 percent after 44 percent 2023.

The forest state has been carried out by the countries since 1984 via a network of samples. From mid -July to mid -August, the leaf mass of the crowns is assessed and four “malfunction” is assigned. This time there were 9816 trees at 409 points. The federal Thünen Institute then highs the data up to a Germany-wide result.

In view, there are four main types that make up around 70 percent of all trees. The condition of the oaks is particularly concerned. With them, a “strikingly high proportion” of 51 percent had significantly light crowns after 44 percent in the collection of 2023. “To this result, the infestation of mushrooms such as mildew and feed damage by insects contributed significantly to this result. In many regions, damage caused by oak beetle have played an important role.

In the case of Buchen, the proportion of trees with clearly thinned crowns was still 46 percent compared to 2023. He remained at 24 percent for pine. In the case of spruce, the proportion with significant damage by four percentage points fell to 39 percent. Forest covers around a third of Germany’s country.

“Forest is more than nature”

“We have to act and put our forests more vital and stable,” said Rainer. “The forest is more than nature. It is a habitat, climate protection and economic factor.” Forests had a climate -regulating and saving carbon. In addition, they are a unique habitat for animal and plant species and thus secured the biological diversity. At the same time, the forest, as a significant wood and raw material supplier, contributes to the prosperity of the country.

In general, a conversion of the forests runs to adapt them to climate change. “We have to support the forest owners in the necessary efforts and do not hinder them through additional bureaucracy,” the minister emphasized. In addition to research, the management must also be strengthened. “Forest use and forest conversion are active climate protection.”

Environmentalist for stopping the trees

The environmental organization Greenpeace called the new report alarming and called for consequences. “Instead of falling further trees and weakening the forest ecosystem, we have to consistently protect our natural deciduous forests.” At the same time, softwood plantations would have to be transferred to resistant, diverse deciduous forests. Only they kept a cool, damp interior climate that makes forests resistant in the climate crisis.

The Working Group of German Forest Owners’ Associations said that it is experienced every day: “Our forests are under massive climate stress.” Even if it rained more in 2024, long -term climate tablets caused great damage. At the same time, the condition vary significantly. This requires suitable solutions depending on the location. Owners strengthened the forests through care and conversion to climate silicians mixed forests, which was complex and expensive.