The state of Europe's forests in 2025
The «State of Europe's Forests» report is published every five years and describes the evolution of sustainable forest management (SFM) in Europe, based on a series of indicators that are aligned with the criteria agreed at a pan-European level by the 45 signatory States. This report is used, among other things, to develop evidence-based policies by monitoring long-term trends in European forests and forestry, identifying emerging challenges and responding to existing ones.
The latest report available, which can be read in its English version on this link, collect the following data:
- The forest area in Europe continues to increase, albeit at a slower pace, due, among other things, to increased logging and damage to woodland.
- 81 per cent of the net annual increment is allocated to felling, mostly carried out within sustainable forest management.
- The species composition is increasingly diverse.
- The majority of European forests have regenerated naturally.
- Dead wood is continuously increasing.
- The common woodland bird index has increased moderately by 3.1% since 2020.
- The contribution of the European forestry sector to GDP remains stable, while employment in the forestry sector is decreasing (due, among other factors, to the mechanisation and digitalisation of processes and forest operations).
These indicators, along with others that were also collected, show that despite the increased frequency and impact of natural disturbances due to climate change, and the greater complexity in making decisions on sustainable forest management, forests continue to fulfil their multifunctional role and provide the numerous economic, environmental and social benefits that society expects from them. Only the social function related to job creation is called into question, as is the case in most economic sectors in Europe.
