European forests confront climate‑driven droughts as funding cuts loom

In Wallonia, Belgium, repeated droughts linked to climate warming are stressing trees, with sap flow indicating intense stress. Experts say the cumulative effect threatens tree survival and call for diversifying species, including assisted migration of southern and eastern European varieties, a process that will take decades.

In Switzerland, the Federal Council announced that from 2027 it will eliminate the CHF 25 million annual budget earmarked for adapting forests to climate change, despite two parliamentary votes supporting the program. Officials cite debt‑limit constraints, while cantonal and parliamentary leaders criticize the move as a democratic setback. The funding cut comes as tree mortality from drought has risen sharply and fire risk increases.

Both countries face mounting pressure to redesign forest management to cope with hotter, drier conditions, highlighting a broader European challenge of balancing climate adaptation with fiscal constraints.