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Germany's forests

At 11.5 million hectares, forests cover almost a third of Germany. This makes it the second most common form of land use after agriculture - and an indispensable resource. Forests are a habitat for animals and plants, a recreational area for people and a central component of climate protection measures to mitigate climate change. The fourth National Forest Inventory (BWI 4), which was compiled by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food in 2020-2022, shows that the forest area has increased slightly since 2012 - a success of sustainable management and reforestation.

However, increasing the forest area alone is not enough; the health of the forests is also important, as many forests are severely damaged or lie fallow due to climate or damaging events. Private forest owners in particular, who manage almost half of the forests in Germany, often face major challenges. They lack the knowledge, resources and support to maintain their areas sustainably or to convert them in a climate-resilient manner. The forest in Germany has a wood stock of 3.7 billion m³ or 335 m³ per hectare. However, the carbon stock has decreased by 41.5 million tons (3%) since the last national forest inventory. Since 2017, the forest has turned from an important carbon store into a carbon source. The decline in growth is particularly alarming due to the drought years and calamities of recent years.

There are around 90 billion trees in Germany, of which an estimated 30-40% are damaged. This means that at least 27 billion trees are affected in Germany alone.

Fallow land in the Sauerland, as well as fallow forest areas of the WeReforest project in Trais-Münzenberg

Forest distribution and utilization in Germany

The distribution of forest areas reflects the diversity of the German landscape: while Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse occupy the top spots with around 43% forest cover, Schleswig-Holstein is comparatively sparsely forested with only 12%. The ownership structures are just as varied as the use.

With 48 % private forest, this form of ownership dominates Germany's forests. Small-structured forests in particular face challenges, as many owners are unable or unwilling to actively manage their land. At the same time, these forests offer potential for nature conservation and climate-friendly projects.

However, a large proportion of the forests remain unused: No timber has been felled on around 43% of the timber land area in the last ten years. This trend shows the importance of targeted support to encourage forest owners to manage their land sustainably. Projects such as those run by WeReforest can help to revitalize fallow land and promote forest conversion.

Changing tree species

The composition of tree species in German forests has changed significantly in recent decades. The proportion of deciduous trees such as beech and oak has increased by 7 % since the last inventory, while the area of spruce has decreased by 17 %. The most common tree species are

  • Pine (22 %): Particularly widespread in the north-east German lowlands, it is considered comparatively robust.
  • Spruce (21 %): Characteristic of the low mountain ranges, but severely affected by drought and pests.
  • Beech (17 %): A central component of near-natural forests in Germany.
  • Oak (12 %): They are particularly hardy and stable thanks to their deep roots.
  • Other (28 %): The remaining 28 % is spread across 47 other tree species and tree species groups.

The increase in mixed forests, which now make up 79 % of the forested area, is particularly pleasing. They promote biodiversity and increase the resilience of forests to climate change and pests.

 

Forests as habitats

Germany's forests are among the country's most species-rich habitats. They provide a habitat for around 2,900 plant species, 140 vertebrate species and countless insects. Deadwood in particular, the amount of which has increased significantly in recent years, plays a crucial role in this. It serves as a habitat for specialized species such as fungi, beetles and birds. Another key to biodiversity is the age structure of the forests. With an average age of 82 years, forests offer a variety of microhabitats, from woodpecker cavities in old trees to moist soil areas that provide shelter and food for rare species.

Challenges posed by climate change

Climate change poses immense challenges for forests. Extreme weather events such as drought, storms and pest infestations are having a massive impact on stands. Spruce is particularly affected, having lost large areas due to its susceptibility to drought stress and pests such as the bark beetle. However, deciduous trees such as beech and oak are also showing increasing damage. The timber stock is currently growing by 9.4 m³ per hectare and year, which corresponds to around 101.5 million m³ per year. This represents a decrease of 16% compared to previous years, which is due to the impact of climate change. The solution lies in long-term forest conversion to climate-adapted and multi-layered mixed forests. Tree species such as oak, sweet chestnut or Douglas fir, which are better adapted to warm and/or dry conditions, are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, sustainable forest management is required that takes equal account of ecological, economic and social aspects.

The future of German forests

Germany's forests are at a turning point, because their future depends on how we treat them today. Long-term efforts by politics, science, forestry and society are necessary to preserve them and adapt them to changing conditions. A climate-resilient forest that preserves biodiversity and can be used sustainably at the same time is a decisive contribution to climate protection and to safeguarding forests for future generations. In addition to forest storage, the use of wood is also important: currently, the use of wood avoids around 5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by replacing energy-intensive materials. This underlines the central role of sustainable forestry and the use of wood for climate protection.

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