The Czech Republic is witnessing a remarkable revival of its forestlands, with nearly 42,000 hectares of forests restored last year through natural regeneration and new plantings. For the third consecutive year, the area of restored forest has exceeded newly created clearings, resulting in a net increase of 1,375 hectares in total forest coverage. This positive trend coincides with the continuing decline of the devastating bark beetle infestation that has plagued Czech woodlands for years.
According to data from the Czech Statistical Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, foresters planted an impressive 159.7 million deciduous and coniferous seedlings last year. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný highlighted a record 30 percent increase in natural forest regeneration compared to 2023, where new trees grew naturally from seeds under mature forest canopies—a significant benefit for the future health of these ecosystems.
The composition of newly planted forests reflects a strategic shift toward greater diversity, with deciduous trees accounting for 58 percent of all new plantings. Among coniferous species, Norway spruce and Scots pine were most commonly planted, while European beech and various oak species dominated the deciduous plantings. The Ministry provides subsidies for reforestation efforts, with higher rates offered to forest owners who plant soil-improving and stabilizing species.
The Vysočina Region leads the country’s reforestation efforts, accounting for more than one-fifth of all new forest plantings nationwide. Simultaneously, the decline of so-called incidental logging—particularly that caused by bark beetle infestations—represents another encouraging development. For the first time in eight years, weather-related damage has surpassed insect damage as the primary cause of incidental logging, with wind and snow accounting for 49 percent of such harvests compared to insects’ 30 percent.
This retreat of the bark beetle crisis has allowed forest managers to refocus on proper forest management practices, with consistent increases in thinning and pruning operations since 2020. These essential maintenance activities, which had been neglected during the peak of the beetle infestation, represent crucial climate adaptation measures as they help create forest structures more resilient to drought and wind damage.
Another positive indicator is the declining export of raw timber, which fell to 21 percent of harvested wood compared to 28 percent the previous year. This means more domestically harvested wood is being processed within the Czech Republic. Concurrently, raw timber imports increased by 801,000 cubic meters to 2.371 million cubic meters, while domestic consumption rose by 10 percent to 16.461 million cubic meters. The vast majority of timber trade occurs with neighboring countries, including Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia.