#00039
Forests across Europe and beyond are experiencing accelerating decline driven by climate change. Drought, rising temperatures, insect epidemics, and fungal diseases are killing trees at unprecedented rates across multiple species, turning forests from carbon sinks into carbon emitters.
Prolonged and recurring drought is weakening forests globally, depriving trees of the water they need to grow, defend themselves against pests, and survive heatwaves. It is the foundational stress factor behind most forest dieback crises.
Beech and ash trees — historically dominant in many European forests — are in widespread decline. Drought weakens them while fungal pathogens (nectria on beech, chalara/ash dieback on ash) deliver the killing blow. The loss of these species is transforming forest landscapes and ecosystems.
Bark beetles have reached epidemic levels in drought-stressed spruce forests across multiple regions. These insects exploit weakened trees, bore under the bark, block sap circulation, and can kill a tree within weeks. Infestations spread rapidly and overwhelm management capacity.