Forest Status Report 2020: Almost 50% of the forests are damaged

For the third year in a row, drought and heat weakened the forest trees in Baden-Württemberg. As a result, the condition of the forests has deteriorated to such an extent that 46% of the area has already been classified as clearly damaged. "This means that we have reached an unprecedented level of damage since the forest condition survey began," said the Minister for Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, Peter Hauk, on the occasion of the presentation of the Forest Condition Report 2020. High damage to all tree species The consequences of the last three years, which were above average warm and dry, were observed in all tree species. The mean loss of needles or leaves has deteriorated further in spruce, pine, ash and beech. The state of the fir is stagnating at a high level of damage. The oak is the only main tree species to show significant improvements in the condition of the crown, which, however, is still at a high level of damage. State aid for forest conversion “The country is ...