The timber stock in European forests has increased by more than ten billion cubic meters over the past thirty years.
As a result, carbon storage in European nature is also increasing. The EU aims to encourage tree planting and the creation of new forests as part of its new Green Deal climate policy.
Switzerland has the most trees on the European continent, as shown in the new edition of the report “State of Europe’s Forests 2020.” However, Switzerland also produces a lot of nitrogen pollution from fuel combustion, industry, transport, and agriculture.
In southern Switzerland, ozone levels are record-breaking, according to the Research Institute for Forests, Snow and Landscape (WSL), which announces this in its report published every five years. Additionally, 24 species of mammals and 22 species of forest birds are threatened in Swiss forests.
The authors attribute the increasing timber stocks in Europe to various factors, such as lower prices from timber sales and increased public awareness of the importance of intact forests.
However, the authors also point out that the overall quality of the forests is deteriorating. The main causes are pests, diseases, fires, and storms.