Germany News Brief and Action Alert

Forests Cover About 32.68% of Germany’s Land Area

November 25, 2024November 25, 2024

Forests play a crucial role in the ecosystem, acting as carbon sinks, centres of biodiversity and sources of renewable resources. According to the World Bank, forests cover about 32.68% of Germany’s land area, or about 114,190 square kilometres in 2021. Over the past 30 years, Germany’s forest cover has remained relatively stable, increasing by around »0.3%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the country’s forest protection measures, as shown in the following graphs.

The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (BMEL) is conducting the Fourth National Forest Inventory, which will provide updated information on the extent and composition of the country’s forests. The aim is to understand better the forests’ current situation, threats, development, and protection.

Source: DLR (2018-2021)[1]

Despite Germany’s efforts to conserve its forests, significant tree loss has occurred in recent years due to various factors, including logging, development, and natural disturbances such as drought and pest outbreaks. As shown in the previous figures, these factors have severely affected forest health in certain regions. The central part of Germany, including the Eifel, Sauerland, Harz regions, and Saxony, has suffered the most, particularly in coniferous forests, which are susceptible to beetle infestation.

Satellite data from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) shows that Germany lost around 501,000 hectares of forest between 2018 and 2021 – around 5% of its total forest area. This loss, much greater than previously estimated, was concentrated in central Germany, particularly affecting regions such as the Harz, Eifel, and Thuringian forests. Conifers in these regions were particularly affected by extreme heat, drought, and bark beetle infestation. In North Rhine-Westphalia, more than a quarter of the pine forests were lost during this period. Emergency felling – the pre-emptive removal of infected trees – became a common response to mitigate further damage, further stressing already fragile forest ecosystems.

Source: DLR

In addition, the satellite image of Arnsberg in the Hochsauerlandkreis district shows a healthy, densely forested area in 2017. Dark red tones represent vital coniferous forests, while light red tones indicate healthy deciduous forests. Compare this to the image on the right in 2021, where the tree cover is dramatically reduced. The light green areas show deforestation, while the dark green areas show dead (spruce) trees.

In addition to drought and insect infestation, forest fires have become a growing concern for Germany’s forests. In 2022, Germany experienced its worst wildfire season in decades, with more than 4,000 hectares of land, including forest, destroyed by wildfires. An unusually hot and dry summer and drought conditions exacerbated the fire risk. By December 2023, the area lost to wildfires had reached 975 hectares, highlighting the continued vulnerability of Germany’s forests to climate-related threats.

The following chart shows that deforestation linked to specific products has also posed a challenge for emissions control in Germany. Data from 2019 shows that annual CO2 emissions from deforestation were driven by oilseed products, which accounted for 15.62 million tonnes, followed by livestock production at 10.31 million tonnes and other crops at 4.8 million tonnes. Over the past three decades, implementing and enforcing laws to prevent deforestation has helped Germany maintain its forest cover. Still, continued vigilance is needed to protect these ecosystems from further degradation.

Composition and Carbon Sequestration in Germany’s Forests

Germany’s forests are a mix of coniferous and broadleaved species, with coniferous trees covering about 55.5% of the forest area and broadleaved trees the remaining 44.5%. The country’s forest management practices emphasize sustainable use and biodiversity, helping to maintain the forests’ ability to sequester carbon and support diverse species.

Source: BMEL

Source: BMEL

According to the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (BMEL), Germany’s forests currently store about 1,170 million tonnes of carbon in living trees and dead wood, or about 105 tonnes per hectare. In addition, the soil beneath these forests stores a further 850 million tonnes of carbon in the litter layer and mineral soil. Germany’s forests act as a powerful carbon sink, removing around 52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, reducing national emissions by around 6%[2]. This sequestration capacity underlines the critical importance of maintaining healthy, resilient forests in the fight against climate change, which aligns with the EU’s NDCs.

Source: BMEL

Source: BMEL

As we have seen, there has been a minimal reduction in forest cover in Germany, mainly due to the loss of important ecosystems in the country’s heart. A well-managed forest with a balanced mix of tree species and ages can maintain this CO2 sink over time. Wood harvested from forests, especially coniferous wood, often used in construction and furniture making, continues to store carbon long after it is harvested. Hardwood, on the other hand, is more commonly used for paper production or as an energy source.

The composition of tree species plays an important role in the carbon sequestration potential of Germany’s forests. Researchers from the WBAE have suggested that increasing the proportion of fast-growing coniferous species, such as Douglas fir, could increase the carbon storage capacity of these forests. Conifers sequester CO2 more quickly because of their rapid growth. However, any changes in forest composition must be balanced with efforts to promote mixed-species forests, which provide ecological benefits such as improved biodiversity and resilience to climate change impacts.

On the other hand, Germany has implemented strong public policies to protect, expand, and sustainably manage its forest areas. Approximately 90% of German forests are protected under various legal frameworks, including national parks, nature reserves, and water and soil protection forests. Approximately 10% of Germany’s land area is designated under the European Habitats Directive, part of the Natura 2000 network to protect endangered species and habitats.

Germany’s National Strategy for Biological Diversity, to be introduced in 2020, sets ambitious targets for forest conservation, including keeping at least 5% of the country’s forest area untouched by human activity. About 330,000 hectares of forest, or 3% of the total forest area, are classified as non-commercial, allowing them to develop naturally and contribute to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and ecological resilience.

In addition, the government supports semi-natural forest management, which promotes biodiversity while balancing commercial use and conservation. This approach ensures that forests continue to provide vital ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water filtration, and wildlife habitat. As a result of this policy, Germany’s native forests have reached 81% of the highest achievable biodiversity value, reflecting the alignment of forest management practices with ecological goals.

Germany’s forests are an integral part of the country’s climate strategy as outlined in the European Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Forest conservation, afforestation, and sustainable management are key aspects of Germany’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration. The inclusion of forests in Europe’s NDCs underlines the importance of sustainable land use, particularly in agriculture and LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry), in mitigating long-term climate impacts. Germany has set a net negative emissions target for land use and forestry (LULUCF) of minus 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) by 2030, with targets of minus 35 million tonnes and minus 40 million tonnes CO2 eq by 2040 and 2045.

By enhancing forest carbon sinks and promoting sustainable management practices, Germany can continue to play an important role in global efforts to limit temperature rise and protect biodiversity. In the future, reconciling economic activities with nature conservation will remain essential to preserve forests’ crucial role as carbon sinks and biodiversity reserves.

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This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Germany Country Manager Felipe Gärtner Jaramillo.

[1] For this analysis, the DLR-Earth Observation Center (EOC) used satellite data from Sentinel-2 und Landsat-8 from the years 2018 to 2021.

[2] Dunger, K. et al. (2014): Nationaler Inventarbericht Deutschland 2014, Kap. 7.2 Wälder. Umweltbundesamt, Nr. 24/2014

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