The Wavering Future of Europe and the Rest of the World’s Forests

Many of us have heard of or experienced the 2018 and 2019 summer heatwaves in Europe. What isn’t as well-known is the extensive damage done to the forests of the small continent. Since the spring of 2018, a large portion of Europe has been caught in a record-setting drought whose effects are unprecedented in the last 250 years. As a result of climate change, droughts have been increasing in number. Forest survival and in turn many other environmental factors are facing an immense threat. Whether Europe’s forests will survive the 2020 heatwave remains to be seen.

So what exactly is going on in European woodlands?  For starters, droughts deprive trees of water, leading to root loss. This then leads to stress and decreased immunity to insects and diseases, which ultimately leads to widespread tree loss. In this consecutive drought, the average summer temperature increased by an unparalleled 2℃ along with a 20% deficit in precipitation. While vegetation was able to bounce back in a similar 2003 summer drought, this is not the case this time around. The conditions are simply too much for trees to recover quickly enough. Take Germany for instance, approximately 97% of its forests are no longer equipped to outlast climate change. Not to mention the poor vegetation health in over 20% of Central Europe. Nonetheless, 2020 has brought yet another heatwave tantamount in strength to the previous ones upon Europe once again.

Unfortunately, the damage caused by the drought does not just stop there. According to the FAO, forests are essential to earth, as they prevent erosion, regulate local climate, provide shade and shelter, attract pollinators, and directly influence water quality. Thus, they are essential for the preservation of biodiversity and agricultural sustainability. In addition, the livelihoods and food security of 40% of the extreme rural poor rest on the vibrancy of forests. That’s 250 million people who rely on forest products, goods, and services for income. In fact, the forest provides for many more people than just the poor. In reference to the same source, NWFPs (non-wood forest products) supply food, finances, and nutritional diversity for 20% of the human race. The loss or even decrease in these factors endangers the tenability of all creatures. Furthermore, forests are the most cost-effective method to combat climate change. They serve as carbon sinks and are essential for achieving the 2050 SDG goal of climate neutrality. Ergo, compromising forests jeopardizes much more than just vegetation.

However, the harm done to Europe’s forests is much more complex than just droughts. Studies show an increase in the region’s forest coverage, yet this is actually not good news. As stated in a Nature Magazine article, compared to the time period of 2011-2015, harvested area surged by 49%, biomass loss shot up by 69%, and the average size of harvested regions has risen by 34% from 2016-2018. Much of the influx in coverage consists of non-native species. Due to the expanded use of wood-based bioenergy and international trade in the wood market, monoculture plantations are being planted or replacing mixed, native forests. To elaborate further, Lutz Fähser, the former director of the Lübeck forest explains, “These plantations won’t be able to overcome the looming consequences of climate change, because they lack the organic, systemic adaptability inherent to natural forests.” Befitting his statement, most of the trees that died in the last summer drought were in non-native plantations. Most native species pulled through.

Sadly, this issue is widespread; forests all across the globe shrink as a result of centuries of mistreatment. As a matter of fact, a football pitch’s worth of forest area is lost every single second. This is the aftermath of a long history of humans cutting down trees for purposes such as infrastructure development, timber-oriented forest management, and climate change contribution. Deforestation is a serious matter, seeing that it is the second leading cause of global warming. As reported by the FAO, carbon emissions are one of the main culprits of the changing climate. The practice accounts for 20% of carbon emissions because of the release of thousands-of-years-worth of stored carbon. That’s a larger impact than that of cars, boats, and planes combined. Ultimately, the ill-management of trees makes for a sticky situation when the demand in the wood industry continues to swell.

Thankfully, there is still hope for our planet. Just look at the Lübeck forest. Resources are drawn from the woodland without compromising the trees’ competence to adapt to change. The trees are able to provide homes for other organisms, regulate the water system, and remain primarily self-organized. To push for change, the industry must go about forestry in an elemental manner.

Moreover, change starts with mindsets. Forests are not just patches of land from which humans craft wood products. They are entire ecosystems, home to a vast network of animals and plants that are essential to all life on earth. In fact, forests have a greater aptitude to provide for other life forms than most other ecosystems. We must start thinking that we are part of that food web as well. If we utilize more natural techniques in forestry to preserve their congenital ability to adapt and support a multitude of lifeforms, the world could be looking at an exceedingly different future than the one we are on course to now.

So, how can everyone help? Stay on top of news about forestry tactics and world-wide biodiversity. An easy way to achieve this is downloading Ecosia; a web browser that plants trees for the searches conducted and puts out frequent updates on the condition of forests around the globe. This allows us to be aware of how different approaches affect the world. To take it further, spread the information around, put pressure on the government. Too many forests stare death in the face; the Amazon, California’s trees, etc. How much more has to die out before enough is enough? The world’s environmental issues are an everlasting current event. This problem should have much more representation in mainstream media. Even major organizations such as the UN have shifted their focus to aid the recovery and development of trees. What’s more, everyone has heard of multiple ways to care for our planet. This includes buying more eco-friendly products, reducing, reusing, recycling, and planting trees. Every last effort counts. We created this problem. We can be the ones to fix it too.