Over one in five forest trees in Flanders damaged

Over a fifth, or 22,6 per cent, of the forest trees in Flanders were damaged last year. That’s an improvement on 2022, when it was still a quarter (or 26,6 per cent), but down on 2021 (19,9 per cent). The figures show that good nature and forest policies are absolutely necessary.

Every year, the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) surveys the health of the Flemish forests as part of an international programme of forest vitality monitoring. The percentage of damaged (forest) trees is, after all, a good indicator of the forest quality. This year’s survey, in collaboration with Statistics Flanders, shows that while the quality of forest trees has improved compared to 2022, there has been a deterioration since 2021.

Last year, almost 23 per cent of the forest trees in Flanders were damaged. That is better than the year before (26,6 per cent), but worse than in 2021 (19,9 per cent). According to the survey, the most damaged tree species were Corsican pine and pedunculate oak (also known as the common oak or the English oak). American oak and beech are also in that list. 

To conduct the survey, a total of 1473 trees were checked: 860 deciduous trees and 613 conifers. An important criterion for determining the health of forest trees was leaf density. Trees with more than 25 per cent leaf or needle loss are considered damaged. This is influenced by atmospheric depositions, climate change, forest management and natural factors such as insects and fungi, among others. 

In a reaction, Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir has said that the figures show that good nature and forest policies are absolutely necessary and that Flanders must continue to invest in more and bigger forests to avoid deterioration in the future.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Renaat Landuyt, a former minister in the Flemish government, in Groenendaal's forestry center © BELGA PHOTO OLIVIER MATTHYS}