Europe’s forests continue to expand and provide important economic, environmental and social benefits to society. Forest area, growing stock and overall wood increment have increased over recent decades, and forests continue to function as a carbon sink. At the same time, climate-related disturbances, changing age structures and increasing societal demands are placing growing pressure on forest resources and slowing the rate of carbon sequestration. These were some of the key messages highlighted during the FOREST EUROPE webinar “Do Europe’s Forests Suffice? Forest Resources and Carbon Sequestration”, held on 22 May 2026.

The speakers explored selected findings from the State of Europe’s Forests 2025 report (SoEF 2025) related to forest resources, harvesting levels and carbon sequestration, and what these indicators reveal about the current condition and future role of Europe’s forests.

The webinar featured Kari T. Korhonen from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Michael Losch from the European Commission’s DG Agriculture and Rural Development, Sven-Erik Hammar from the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF), and Jori Ringman from the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi). Together, the speakers discussed findings from the State of Europe’s Forests 2025 report related to forest resources, carbon sequestration, harvesting levels, forest resilience, the role of forests in the bioeconomy and the increasing demands placed on Europe’s forests.

Forest area and growing stock continue to increase

Presenting key findings from the State of Europe’s Forests 2025 report, Kari T. Korhonen highlighted that Europe’s forests now cover 35% of the continent’s land area and that forest area has increased by around 11% since 1990. He also noted that growing stock in European forests is around 45% higher than in 1990, while fellings remain below net annual increment at approximately 81%.

Korhonen further highlighted that “the annual sink of sequestration of CO₂ in the forests is now lower than in the earlier reports, but still on the positive side,” noting that forests in Europe continue to function as a carbon sink despite increasing pressures linked to natural disturbances, climate-related stress and changing forest age structures.

Forests remain central to climate mitigation and the bioeconomy

Michael Losch placed the European findings in a broader global perspective. Referring to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, he noted that while many tropical regions continue to experience deforestation, Europe continues to show net forest area growth.

“We have a serious problem globally, but we are on a good track in Europe,” Losch stated, highlighting the importance of placing European forest developments within a wider international context.

Losch also highlighted the important role of forests within the European bioeconomy, noting that forestry biomass represents 41% of total EU biomass supply. He pointed to the increasing importance of renewable wood-based materials and products in reducing dependence on fossil-based materials and supporting the transition towards a circular bioeconomy.

The relationship between forest use and sustainability was a recurring topic throughout the webinar. Speakers highlighted that increased harvesting levels are linked both to climate-related disturbances and to growing demand for renewable materials and fossil substitution, while overall harvesting levels in Europe remain below annual forest growth.

Sustainable Forest Management and resilience

Several speakers stressed that Sustainable Forest Management remains essential for maintaining resilient and multifunctional forests under changing climatic conditions. Sven-Erik Hammar, President of CEPF, emphasised:

“Despite growing climate-related disturbances and the increasing complexity of forest management decisions, European forests continue to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to society. The report clearly shows that Sustainable Forest Management remains essential to keep forests resilient and multifunctional for future generations.”

Hammar also stressed the importance of recognising forests both as carbon sinks and as a foundation for renewable, wood-based solutions within the European bioeconomy.

The webinar also addressed the role of adaptive forest management in responding to climate-related disturbances such as storms, droughts, pest outbreaks and wildfire risks. Discussions highlighted that salvage logging and active forest management were highlighted as part of broader efforts to strengthen forest resilience and secure future forest functions.

Jori Ringman, Director General of Cepi, stressed that maintaining positive trends in Europe’s forests will require proactive and adaptive approaches to Sustainable Forest Management in response to changing climatic conditions and growing pressures on forests. He also stressed the role of forest-based products in climate mitigation through fossil substitution:

“The exact calculation may vary, but the reality is clear: fossil products add CO₂, forest-based products help avoid it.”

Looking at Europe’s forests in a global context

Throughout the webinar, speakers repeatedly stressed the importance of reliable and harmonised forest data for informed policymaking and international cooperation. Michael Losch from the European Commission’s DG Agriculture and Rural Development underlined that informed debate and policymaking must be grounded in reliable data and monitoring.

In his closing remarks, Kari T. Korhonen highlighted that while Europe faces growing pressures on forests, the broader picture remains important. He noted that Europe is still in a rather good situation regarding forests compared to many other regions globally facing significant deforestation pressures. Korhonen also underlined the importance of the State of Europe’s Forests report as a widely used and highly appreciated source of harmonised forest data supporting policy planning, monitoring and science-policy dialogue across Europe.