REFORESTATION IN

Europe

From the Black Forest of Brother’s Grimm lore to the historic Leiria Pine Forest, woodlands are woven through the fabric of Europe’s history. 8,000 years ago, before the First Agricultural Revolution, studies indicate that Europe was primarily covered in forest. Today, despite significant declines, the region remains one of the most forested in the world — and its tree cover is dominated by broadleaf deciduous and evergreen coniferous trees. 

Europe’s forests have historically faced extreme deforestation pressure as a result of human expansion, conflict, the industrial revolution, and other factors. Pests, diseases, and climate change only intensify the pressure on already fragmented woodlands — and in the UK alone, millions of ash trees are threatened by Chalara ash dieback. As Europe experiences increasing climate change impacts such as record-high temperatures, forest fires in Greece, and flooding in Italy, reforestation is more important than ever.

Featured reforestation locations

Europe’s forests have suffered significant loss over the past millennia. Our tree-planting projects across the continent are working to restore these lost forests and create new ones. Discover more about our work in countries across Europe.