The State of Europe's Forests report is published every five years, and describes the developments of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in Europe under the framework of FOREST EUROPE, based on a list of indicators corresponding to criteria agreed at pan-European level by 45 Signatory States. This report supports evidence-based policy making by tracking long-term trends in European forests and forestry, identifying emerging challenges, and assessing progress towards international and European commitments related to climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Among the indicators reported in the 2025 edition:
- forest area in Europe is still increasing
- growing stock is still increasing but slowing down due to a combination of factors including age structure, increasing utilisation rates and forest damage
- forests are a significant carbon sink in Europe, with the sink continuing to increase
- 81% of the net annual increment is utilised for fellings, with a sustainable harvest level in most regions
- tree species composition is becoming more diverse
- the majority of European forests are naturally regenerated
- deadwood is continuously increasing
- the Common Forest Bird index has increased moderately by 3% since 2020
- the contribution of the forest sector to GDP remains steady whereas employment in the forest sector is decreasing (due to economic pressure, mechanisation and digitalisation of processes and operations)
These examples, together with other reported indicators, show that despite the increasing frequency and impacts of natural disturbances due to climate change, and the increasing complexity of making decisions with regard to sustainable forest management, forests continue to provide their multifunctional role and bring the many economic, environmental and social benefits that society expects. Only the social role related to the provision of jobs is challenged, as is the case for most economic sectors in Europe.
CEPF strongly supports the concept of SFM as defined under this framework and the decades long work carried under the Forest Europe process.
Link to the report: https://foresteurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SoEF2025.pdf
