European forests shed 46% more biomass per hectare since 2018, weakening carbon sink

A new study published in Nature Geoscience reports that European forests have been losing 46% more above-ground biomass per hectare annually since 2018 compared with the previous three decades. The authors combined satellite observations of tree cover with biomass density data to quantify the carbon impact of disturbances. The surge in loss is most evident in Central Europe, where drought-induced stress has lowered trees' natural defenses, allowing bark beetle populations to decimate vulnerable stands.

Although forest management activities remain the dominant source of biomass removal, the share attributable to natural events rose from about 17% before 2018 to 23% thereafter. The findings raise concerns for EU climate targets that rely on forests as carbon sinks, highlighting the need for adaptive management and continued monitoring from space.