European Forests Lose More Biomass Since 2018, Cutting Carbon Storage

A study published in *Nature Geoscience* and supported by the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative (RECCAP‑2) quantified forest‑disturbance impacts across Europe for the first time. Researchers found that for every hectare of forest affected, biomass loss has risen by 46 % since 2018, driven by drought, windstorms, insect infestations, wildfires and logging. Between 1985 and 2023, an estimated 6.5 billion tonnes of above‑ground biomass were lost, while Europe’s forests still hold about 10.6 billion tonnes of carbon – one of the continent’s largest terrestrial carbon stores. Although forest regeneration has partially offset the losses, the trend signals a growing reduction in Europe’s capacity to sequester CO₂.

The findings highlight the need for improved monitoring of disturbance severity, as area‑based assessments alone can underestimate the true carbon impact of events such as wildfires that affect low‑biomass scrub versus dense, mature woodlands.