Forest condition in Schleswig-Holstein: Alarming damage caused by climate change!

Forest condition in Schleswig-Holstein: Alarming damage caused by climate change!

Schleswig-Holstein's forests are under pressure! The Ministry of Agriculture's latest 2024 Forest Condition Report reveals alarming news: despite favorable weather conditions, the condition of trees has deteriorated dramatically. Forestry State Secretary Anne Benett-Sturies presented the shocking results on Thursday in Pohnsdorf (Plon district), which show that significantly more trees are severely damaged than last year. The beech, oak and spruce species are particularly affected, as their crowns have become thinner and their leaves have become fewer.

Climate change is hitting forests hard

Although the 2023/2024 growing year in Schleswig-Holstein was one of the warmest years since measurements began, with an average temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsius, and the region was treated to 40 percent more rain than usual, the balance remains bleak. Agriculture Minister Werner Schwarz (CDU) warns of the devastating effects of advancing climate change on forests. “The current results show that increasing warming is also affecting our forests,” he writes in the foreword to the report. The Northwest German Forest Research Institute examines the condition of forest trees every year and the latest data is alarming.

Schleswig-Holstein remains the federal state with the fewest forests, but the area of ​​forests is growing. Particularly encouraging: The decline in coniferous trees could be a ray of hope in the midst of the gloomy situation. However, the question remains: How long can forests withstand these stresses? The advancing climate crisis has also left its mark in the north and the future of the forests is in jeopardy. The next steps to maintain and strengthen forest health are urgently needed!