Forest Damage Report 2025: Dry summers led to fungal and insect infestations in the forest
The dry, hot summers of recent years, combined with fungal and insect infestations, have caused damage to the forest. The between trees weakened by drought and various pest infestations is clear. This is the conclusion reached by the Swedish Forest Agency in this year’s forest damage report, which covers the period up to 2025.
Text: Swedish Forest Agency. Photo: Iryna Matsiakh
She wants to find out how forest management affects nature’s own defences
What impact does human activity, such as forest management, have on the natural control of insect pests? Fredrika Wrethling, a PhD student at the SLU Forest Damage Centre’s research school, has been looking into this in the first part of her project.
In 2025, the number of reported damage incidents in the Skogsskada tool increased. Pine was the tree species hardest hit by fungal infestation. Both fungal diseases and widespread insect infestations were reported from large parts of the country.
Call for proposals for accessing the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's screeningcentre infrastructure in Sävar
In 2026, construction of a screening centre will begin at the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's research station in Sävar. This is funded by Formas, the Kempe Foundations and the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden and will include activities focused on resistance research for forest trees. The
Forestry Research Institute has also received funding from Formas to make the screening centre available to researchers working at and outside the Forestry Research Institute, and we are now looking for proposals for projects that are suitable for this purpose.
Would you like to find out more? Please contact Henrik Svennerstam at
Forestry Research Institute.
It is time for a new round of doctoral students at SLU Forest Damage Centre's research school, starting in 2027. During this meeting researchers has the opportunity to present project ideas.
Planning is ongoing, and we hope to be able to present research and PhD projects, as well as the challenges faced by nurseries and in regeneration with regard to damage and pests.
The conference is primarily aimed at those working in the forestry sector, professionals working in or conducting research on forestry, and forest owners. Save the date
By subscribing to the SLU Forest Damage Centre newsletter, you’ll receive updates and the latest findings on forest damage. Scan the QR code or click the button below. And don’t forget to tell your colleagues or friends who own forests.
Knowledgegaps about forest damage in Sweden - Typo
In our first version of ‘Knowledge Gaps on Forest Damage in Sweden’, a few printing errors had slipped through. Some of the references were incorrect. We have now corrected this, and you can find the updated version in the same place as before.
