Europe's forests biomass loss accelerates

A study by the Technical University of Munich, published in Nature Geoscience, reveals an unprecedented loss of aboveground biomass in Europe's forests since 2018. Using satellite data, researchers found that biomass losses have increased sharply, driven primarily by climate change-related disturbances such as drought, storms, and bark beetle outbreaks. Central European forests, particularly in Germany, have been most affected, releasing significant amounts of carbon. The study highlights that natural disturbances now account for 23% of biomass losses (2018-2023), up from 17% in the earlier period. This trend threatens the European Union's ability to meet its 2030 carbon removal target of 310 megatons of CO2 equivalents, as Europe's forests are already storing significantly less carbon. The researchers, including Anna Kowalski and Cornelius Senf, call for adapted forest management practices to restore carbon sink capacity.