The 10-meter cloud-penetrating deforestation alerts are now available in five additional countries in mainland Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Check them out in the <a href="https://gfw.global/46gapP0">integrated deforestation alerts layer</a>!

NEW: RADD alerts expand to Southeast Asia

Forest Insights

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The Forest Monitoring Story Behind a Cup of Gayo Coffee

To meet the global demand for Arabica coffee, effective monitoring systems are essential to both protect forests and ensure we can continue to enjoy Gayo coffee.

The Forest Monitoring Story Behind a Cup of Gayo Coffee | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Canada’s Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation

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Canada's Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

Canada&#8217;s Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation

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4 Growing Threats to Europe’s Forests: Logging, Bioenergy, Wildfires and Pests

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4 Growing Threats to Europe’s Forests: Logging, Bioenergy, Wildfires and Pests | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Tropical Forest Loss Drops Steeply in Brazil and Colombia, but High Rates Persist Overall

Despite progress in some countries, the rate of tropical primary forest loss in 2023 remained persistent, according to new data from UMD on GFW.

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Stientje van Veldhoven

A recent analysis found that tall, mature forests — which are critical for storing carbon and safeguarding biodiversity — are declining significantly in some parts of Europe. This is primarily due to a rise in timber harvesting as well as natural disturbances, such as wildfires and pests, which are often exacerbated by climate change.



There was some good news as well.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425723003486" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The study</a>, from the University of Maryland and WRI in partnership with European researchers, shows that Europe’s total tree cover increased slightly over the last two decades. But that’s not the full story: Some regions within Europe saw significant declines in forest area. And the total amount of&nbsp;tall forests&nbsp;(forests with trees taller than 15 meters) declined by 2.25 million hectares — an area half the size of Denmark. The decline was highest in Nordic countries, which saw a 20% reduction in tall forests, followed by areas in Southeastern Europe. While tall forests have often been replaced with new trees, these can take decades to mature to the point where they provide equivalent climate and ecosystem benefits, meaning overall forest health in these areas is being reduced.



These findings underscore the need for ambitious action on the part of EU countries to protect and maintain existing forests and the vital services they provide. Progress is underway, with a number of new laws aimed at curbing deforestation and forest degradation. But to be successful, these must be informed by timely, robust data on forest health and disturbances. The proposed <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Forest Monitoring Framework</a>, issued on November 22, 2023, should support these efforts by ensuring harmonized and improved forest monitoring in Europe — if it mandates comparable and consistent reporting on key forest health indicators throughout the EU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Europe Lost 2.25 Million Hectares of Tall Forests From 2001-2021</h2>



Between 2001 and 2021, Europe experienced a small net gain in tree cover of around 1%, or 1.5 million hectares. With tree cover declining&nbsp;<a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/forest-extent-indicators/forest-extent#is-global-tree-cover-increasing-or-decreasing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in almost all other areas</a>&nbsp;around the world, this is an important achievement. But despite this overall gain, the findings also show that Europe’s tall forests&nbsp;declined&nbsp;by 3%, or 2.25 million hectares, over the same period. Tall forests were disproportionately affected by an acceleration of forest disturbance in recent years, including both harvesting activities and natural disturbances.



The analysis shows strong variability between regions, with some experiencing significant losses in forest area while others saw more gains. The Nordic region (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland) saw the biggest declines, losing 3.5% of its total forests and 20% of its tall forests over the last two decades.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1950" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-2048x1950.png" alt="Map showing net change in tall tree cover (height greater than or equal to 15 meters) in Europe 2001-2021" class="wp-image-16502" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-2048x1950.png 2048w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-1024x975.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-768x731.png 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-1536x1463.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



The vast majority (around 87%) of tree cover loss was due to intensive timber harvesting — which can take the form of direct felling or salvage logging after a disturbance — as well as natural disturbances like wildfires and insect outbreaks, which are increasing in extent and severity due to climate change.



Most tree cover loss will be temporary as new forest growth in Europe is largely compensating for forest loss in terms of area alone. But tall forests are being cleared at a faster rate than new forests can regrow, leading to a gradual decline in forest height and a reduction of forest services such as carbon storage over time. So while Europe isn’t losing tree cover overall, the health of its forests is declining.



This decline in Europe’s tall forests is a sign that timber harvesting may already exceed rates that can be sustained into the future. With global demand for timber&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc2265en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expected to grow</a>&nbsp;in the coming decades, Europe should heed this warning and take action to avoid running down its precious forest assets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Tall Forests So Important?</h2>



While most forests in Europe have been intensively managed by humans for centuries, these forests still provide immense value for people and nature.



For one, the carbon storage capacity of trees increases with height and age, meaning the loss of tall trees and a resulting shift toward shorter, younger trees reduces the carbon storage capacity of Europe’s forests. While the full carbon picture is complicated (for example, young forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere at a faster rate than older standing forests),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/forests-absorb-twice-much-carbon-they-emit-each-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protecting mature forests</a>&nbsp;is critical for curbing climate change.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="760" height="477" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20_01_21_Carbon_Flux_v2_Graphic_1.png" alt="Illustration: Forests act as both a source and a sink for carbon" class="wp-image-16503"/></figure>



These tall forests also include many of Europe’s old growth forests, which take centuries to grow and cannot be replaced by young, regrowing forests. Old growth forests&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-021-00988-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">play a key role</a>&nbsp;in climate change mitigation by storing large quantities of carbon both in their biomass and in their soil. They provide ecosystem services like protecting soil health and regulating water drainage, and act as a critical refuge for wildlife and biodiversity. They are also a valuable part of cultural heritage for European communities and nations.



Further, even though the last two decades saw a slight increase in tree cover in Europe overall, much of this increase is due to expansion of tree plantations — specifically plantations of non-native tree species such as eucalyptus, black locust and Sitka spruce. This likely has&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geb.13440" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative consequences</a>&nbsp;for ecosystems, such as reduced diversity and abundance of plants and animals, particularly where more diverse natural forests are replaced by monoculture plantations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New EU Regulations Could Curb Forest Degradation, but Improved Monitoring Is Needed</h2>



Europe is working to improve forest management and address its contribution to forest loss worldwide through a number of new and developing laws and strategies. These include:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/forest-strategy_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Forest Strategy for 2030</a>:&nbsp;A strategy to improve the quantity and quality of EU forests and strengthen their protection, restoration and resilience.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030</a>:&nbsp;A comprehensive long-term plan to protect nature and reverse ecosystem degradation in the EU.</li>



<li>The proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_5662" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Restoration Law</a>:&nbsp;A binding regulation to restore nature, including putting restoration measures in place for at least 20% of the EU’s land areas and 20% of its seas by 2030.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Deforestation Regulation</a>:&nbsp;A binding regulation to ensure that certain commodities exported to or placed on the EU market are <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/commodities/satellite-data-eu-regulation-deforestation-free-supply-chains/">deforestation free</a>.</li>
</ul>



These initiatives show progress is moving in the right direction, but they must be supported by improved monitoring and transparency to be most effective. This is the aim of the proposed <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Monitoring Framework</a> — a regulatory initiative to ensure that European member states provide detailed, robust and timely information on the condition and management of EU forests, including indicators on their health, quality and trends over time.



With better monitoring, Europe will be able to assess whether its forests are managed sustainably, evaluate the ability of forests to contribute to climate change mitigation and identify priority forests to protect. Monitoring efforts under the framework must be harmonized to allow comparison and understanding across the EU, meaning countries should be responsible for reporting on the same set of indicators. They should also be transparent to encourage public accountability and timely to enable data-based decision making on appropriate time scales.



Forests are crucial to fighting climate change and to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. To maximize their potential, Europe should look deeper into its forests. Satellite monitoring and data products, like the ones used in this study or through the open-source&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/">Global Forest Watch</a>, combined with ground-based measurements can support implementation of the Forest Monitoring Framework Regulation and help ensure all of Europe’s forests are on the right track.



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
 

Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/european-tall-forest-decline" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

</div> 

 

<hr>



<style type="text/css"></style>

Timber Harvesting and Climate Change Are Depleting Europe’s Mature Forests

A recent analysis found that tall, mature forests — which are critical for storing carbon and safeguarding biodiversity — are declining significantly in some parts of Europe. This is primarily due to a rise in timber harvesting as well as natural disturbances, such as wildfires and pests, which are often exacerbated by climate change.



There was some good news as well.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425723003486" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The study</a>, from the University of Maryland and WRI in partnership with European researchers, shows that Europe’s total tree cover increased slightly over the last two decades. But that’s not the full story: Some regions within Europe saw significant declines in forest area. And the total amount of&nbsp;tall forests&nbsp;(forests with trees taller than 15 meters) declined by 2.25 million hectares — an area half the size of Denmark. The decline was highest in Nordic countries, which saw a 20% reduction in tall forests, followed by areas in Southeastern Europe. While tall forests have often been replaced with new trees, these can take decades to mature to the point where they provide equivalent climate and ecosystem benefits, meaning overall forest health in these areas is being reduced.



These findings underscore the need for ambitious action on the part of EU countries to protect and maintain existing forests and the vital services they provide. Progress is underway, with a number of new laws aimed at curbing deforestation and forest degradation. But to be successful, these must be informed by timely, robust data on forest health and disturbances. The proposed <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Forest Monitoring Framework</a>, issued on November 22, 2023, should support these efforts by ensuring harmonized and improved forest monitoring in Europe — if it mandates comparable and consistent reporting on key forest health indicators throughout the EU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Europe Lost 2.25 Million Hectares of Tall Forests From 2001-2021</h2>



Between 2001 and 2021, Europe experienced a small net gain in tree cover of around 1%, or 1.5 million hectares. With tree cover declining&nbsp;<a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/forest-extent-indicators/forest-extent#is-global-tree-cover-increasing-or-decreasing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in almost all other areas</a>&nbsp;around the world, this is an important achievement. But despite this overall gain, the findings also show that Europe’s tall forests&nbsp;declined&nbsp;by 3%, or 2.25 million hectares, over the same period. Tall forests were disproportionately affected by an acceleration of forest disturbance in recent years, including both harvesting activities and natural disturbances.



The analysis shows strong variability between regions, with some experiencing significant losses in forest area while others saw more gains. The Nordic region (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland) saw the biggest declines, losing 3.5% of its total forests and 20% of its tall forests over the last two decades.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-14-European-Forest-Decline_Insights-no-logo-1-2048x1950.png" alt="Map showing net change in tall tree cover (height greater than or equal to 15 meters) in Europe 2001-2021" class="wp-image-16502"/></figure>



The vast majority (around 87%) of tree cover loss was due to intensive timber harvesting — which can take the form of direct felling or salvage logging after a disturbance — as well as natural disturbances like wildfires and insect outbreaks, which are increasing in extent and severity due to climate change.



Most tree cover loss will be temporary as new forest growth in Europe is largely compensating for forest loss in terms of area alone. But tall forests are being cleared at a faster rate than new forests can regrow, leading to a gradual decline in forest height and a reduction of forest services such as carbon storage over time. So while Europe isn’t losing tree cover overall, the health of its forests is declining.



This decline in Europe’s tall forests is a sign that timber harvesting may already exceed rates that can be sustained into the future. With global demand for timber&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc2265en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expected to grow</a>&nbsp;in the coming decades, Europe should heed this warning and take action to avoid running down its precious forest assets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Tall Forests So Important?</h2>



While most forests in Europe have been intensively managed by humans for centuries, these forests still provide immense value for people and nature.



For one, the carbon storage capacity of trees increases with height and age, meaning the loss of tall trees and a resulting shift toward shorter, younger trees reduces the carbon storage capacity of Europe’s forests. While the full carbon picture is complicated (for example, young forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere at a faster rate than older standing forests),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/forests-absorb-twice-much-carbon-they-emit-each-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protecting mature forests</a>&nbsp;is critical for curbing climate change.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20_01_21_Carbon_Flux_v2_Graphic_1.png" alt="Illustration: Forests act as both a source and a sink for carbon" class="wp-image-16503"/></figure>



These tall forests also include many of Europe’s old growth forests, which take centuries to grow and cannot be replaced by young, regrowing forests. Old growth forests&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-021-00988-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">play a key role</a>&nbsp;in climate change mitigation by storing large quantities of carbon both in their biomass and in their soil. They provide ecosystem services like protecting soil health and regulating water drainage, and act as a critical refuge for wildlife and biodiversity. They are also a valuable part of cultural heritage for European communities and nations.



Further, even though the last two decades saw a slight increase in tree cover in Europe overall, much of this increase is due to expansion of tree plantations — specifically plantations of non-native tree species such as eucalyptus, black locust and Sitka spruce. This likely has&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geb.13440" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">negative consequences</a>&nbsp;for ecosystems, such as reduced diversity and abundance of plants and animals, particularly where more diverse natural forests are replaced by monoculture plantations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New EU Regulations Could Curb Forest Degradation, but Improved Monitoring Is Needed</h2>



Europe is working to improve forest management and address its contribution to forest loss worldwide through a number of new and developing laws and strategies. These include:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/forest-strategy_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Forest Strategy for 2030</a>:&nbsp;A strategy to improve the quantity and quality of EU forests and strengthen their protection, restoration and resilience.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030</a>:&nbsp;A comprehensive long-term plan to protect nature and reverse ecosystem degradation in the EU.</li>



<li>The proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_5662" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Restoration Law</a>:&nbsp;A binding regulation to restore nature, including putting restoration measures in place for at least 20% of the EU's land areas and 20% of its seas by 2030.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Deforestation Regulation</a>:&nbsp;A binding regulation to ensure that certain commodities exported to or placed on the EU market are <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/commodities/satellite-data-eu-regulation-deforestation-free-supply-chains/">deforestation free</a>.</li>
</ul>



These initiatives show progress is moving in the right direction, but they must be supported by improved monitoring and transparency to be most effective. This is the aim of the proposed <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Monitoring Framework</a> — a regulatory initiative to ensure that European member states provide detailed, robust and timely information on the condition and management of EU forests, including indicators on their health, quality and trends over time.



With better monitoring, Europe will be able to assess whether its forests are managed sustainably, evaluate the ability of forests to contribute to climate change mitigation and identify priority forests to protect. Monitoring efforts under the framework must be harmonized to allow comparison and understanding across the EU, meaning countries should be responsible for reporting on the same set of indicators. They should also be transparent to encourage public accountability and timely to enable data-based decision making on appropriate time scales.



Forests are crucial to fighting climate change and to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. To maximize their potential, Europe should look deeper into its forests. Satellite monitoring and data products, like the ones used in this study or through the open-source&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/">Global Forest Watch</a>, combined with ground-based measurements can support implementation of the Forest Monitoring Framework Regulation and help ensure all of Europe’s forests are on the right track.



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
 

Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/european-tall-forest-decline" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

</div> 

 

<hr>

Timber Harvesting and Climate Change Are Depleting Europe's Mature Forests

A new study found that important tall, mature forests are declining in some parts of Europe due to timber harvesting and climate change.

Timber Harvesting and Climate Change Are Depleting Europe&#8217;s Mature Forests

Jessica Richter

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse