According to the Carbon Inventory 2019 the annual biomass growth of forests was of particular significance for Germany’s CO2 climate protection balance. According to this, our forest areas stored around 1.23 billion tonnes of carbon in living biomass. As a result, the forest removed 62 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year – this corresponded to 7% of total German greenhouse gas emissions.
Due to climate change – lack of rainfall/higher temperatures – there are currently dramatic dieback processes across more than 900,000 hectares of forest in Germany, with a rising trend.
This loss of forest and the failure of secured biomass growth leads to a lasting reduction in CO2 compensation through forest growth. The results of the fourth Federal Forest Inventory (p.7) show that, as a result of forest dieback caused by climate change and the associated loss of living biomass, the forest has become a carbon sink since 2017.
Bind CO₂, secure water – get involved now
Drinking Water Forest plantings regenerate damaged areas and protect our climate. In doing so, they ensure the long-term climate stability, biodiversity and natural water cycle, alongside the quality and availability of our groundwater and drinking water.
