Report finds German forests still suffering from heat and drought

Germany's forests continue to suffer damage from heat and drought, with four out of five trees among the country's most common species still classified as unhealthy, according to government data published on Tuesday.

The annual forest condition survey by the Agriculture Ministry showed that visible needle and leaf loss in tree crowns remained at “a very high level” in 2025, with little improvement from a year earlier.

The report said German forests had still not recovered from the extreme heat and drought experienced between 2018 and 2020. Older trees, particularly those more than 60 years old, were disproportionately affected.

Crown density is regarded as a key indicator of tree health. Across all species, 35% of trees showed significant damage in 2025, down slightly from 36% a year earlier. In these trees, more than a quarter of the crown is bare compared with healthy trees.

Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer said forest conditions had stabilized despite less favourable weather. "The overall condition of our forests has not deteriorated further compared with 2024," he said. Environmental groups, however, warned there was no reason for complacency as climate change continued to strain ecosystems.

The share of trees in a warning category with crown thinning of between 11% and 25% rose by one percentage point to 44%, while only 21% had full crowns.

The survey, carried out annually since 1984, assessed more than 46,000 trees at 1,889 locations across Germany between mid-July and mid-August. The report said weather conditions in 2025 were less favourable for forests than in 2024 because of prolonged dry periods and occasional heatwaves.

Oak trees remained a particular concern, with 51% showing significant crown thinning after a marked deterioration already recorded in 2024. The report said insects and fungal infections were major contributors to the decline.

Forests cover around one-third of Germany's land area and play an important role in cooling surrounding areas and buffering against extreme heat and heavy rainfall.