At 20.65 million m³, the total logging volume was down by 7% compared to the same period last year. This is according to the logging survey conducted by the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry (LWF). Damaged wood accounts for 52% of the total harvest volume in Bavaria. Decreases were recorded for almost all harvested tree species, pine being the only species to see a 6% increase in total logging.
Regarding the various grades, only hardwood logs saw an increase (+14% compared to 2023), which is primarily due to the significant increase in harvested oak logs (+34%). As for the remaining grades, such as energy wood (-9%) and industrial wood (-4%), smaller volumes were logged.
According to the LWF, the volume of damaged wood across Germany actually decreased by 29.4% compared to 2023, accounting for only 44.7% (2023: 55%) of the total logging volume. However, large volumes of damaged wood continue to accumulate in southern Germany, to be precise in Bavaria (10.66 million m³), Thuringia (4.6 million m³) and Baden-Württemberg (3.83 million m³).
