Berlin forests in the crisis: 87 percent of the oaks badly damaged!

Berlin forests in the crisis: 87 percent of the oaks badly damaged!

The condition of the Berlin forests continued to deteriorate in 2024. According to the current forest state report, presented by climate protection and environmental senator Ute Bonde (CDU), 37 percent of the trees already show significant damage. This alarming number marks a step backwards compared to the previous year, when 30 percent of the trees had significant damage. Only four percent of Berlin's forest trees are to be categorized as healthy, which corresponds to the negative record of 2022. The causes of this threatening development lie in the continuing extreme weather conditions of recent years that have led to a stagnating regeneration. Environmental influences, such as the nitrogen entry by agriculture and the emissions of vehicles, further increase the soil and further tighten the situation, reported rbb24.de. .

critical statistics and oaks under pressure

The state of the oaks, which are considered the most important deciduous tree species in Berlin, is particularly worrying. 87 percent of the oaks have significant damage and no healthy oaks could be recorded. This makes the situation even more critical for the forests in the capital, because these trees are essential for the ecosystem. In contrast, the pines have recovered somewhat, with only 13 percent significant damage. Despite the increased precipitation last winter, the recovery of the trees has not prevailed, such as the Tagesspiegel . The average crown agitation of the examined trees has achieved a new record value with 31 percent, which indicates that almost a third of the tree tops have already been damaged.

In order to combat the dramatic loss of tree health, the Berlin forestry emphasizes the need to promote resilient and diverse migration forests. In the meantime, however, environmental organizations such as the WWF have emphasized that the causes of the desolate situation cannot be found exclusively in climate change, but also in a failed forestry. The criticism is particularly directed against the inadequate samples and the missing comprehensive monitoring approach in order to evaluate the condition of the forests and to take the necessary measures.