Only One in Five Trees in Germany Is Healthy, Report Finds

The report highlighted varying conditions among tree species. Beeches and spruces showed slight improvements, with the share of beeches exhibiting significant crown thinning dropping from 46% to 38%, and spruces declining from 39% to 38%.

However, pines and oaks fared worse. The proportion of damaged pines rose sharply to 31% in 2026 from 24% in 2024, while oaks remained severely affected, with 51% showing significant crown thinning. Of the 38 species assessed, three-quarters were dominated by spruces, pines, beeches, and oaks.

Economic and Ecological Implications

Minister Rainer emphasized the economic importance of forests, stating they represent "jobs, craftsmanship, and value creation in rural areas, from sawmills to carpentry businesses." He defended sustainable forest management, asserting, "Protecting forests means using forests."

The ministry credited long-term forest conversion efforts for some resilience. "The shift toward productive and species-rich mixed forests that withstand climate changes, along with sustainable, active forest management, secures the future of our forests," Rainer said.

Robin Späth, speaking to MDR AKTUELL, offered cautious optimism: "It is not the case that we will no longer have forests on large parts of current forest sites in the future. That will not happen." However, he questioned whether future forests would meet human expectations, asking, "To what extent can the future forest, emerging on its own, serve people as they expect from the forest?"