Peter Smith
Europe's forests kept growing in 2023. Across the EU, natural forest growth outpaced wood removals in 23 out of the countries with available data, according to Eurostat. The figures point to a broad and sustained expansion of forest resources throughout the region - with one notable exception.
Romania and Sweden Top the EU Forest Growth Rankings in 2023
Romania ranked first with a net increment of approximately 39.9 million cubic meters after harvest. Sweden followed at 26.4 million cubic meters, with Poland close behind at roughly 26 million. France, Germany, and Finland also recorded strong positive balances, confirming that growth exceeding removals is the dominant pattern across Europe's largest forested economies.
Forest resources continued to expand across the majority of the EU - but the isolated decline in Estonia shows that regional differences in sustainability outcomes can still emerge. - Eurostat, 2023 Forestry Data
Mid-range contributors including Lithuania, Bulgaria, Ireland, Austria, and Denmark posted gains generally between 5 and 11 million cubic meters. Countries like Portugal, Czechia, Latvia, and the Netherlands saw smaller but still positive results.
Estonia Is the Only EU Country to Post a Net Forest Decline
Estonia stood apart as the sole EU country with a negative balance - a net decrease of about 2.5 million cubic meters. This makes it an outlier in an otherwise broadly positive picture, and signals localized pressure on forest resources that contrasts with wider EU trends.
The 2023 data reinforces a consistent dynamic: in most EU countries, forests are growing faster than they are being harvested. That said, Estonia's result is a reminder that aggregate regional trends can mask meaningful local divergences in forest management and sustainability outcomes.
Peter Smith
