Researchers challenge dense forestation goals for Europe

Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark analyzed environmental evidence to determine the historical landscape of Europe over the last 20 million years.

The team published their findings in the journal Biological Conservation. The study shows that Europe was not consistently covered by dense forests. Instead, the continent was dominated by a mosaic of open woodlands, meadows, and wildflower pastures. Researchers reconstructed these ancient environments by examining fossilized pollen, plant remains, charcoal from old fires, and fossils of insects and mammals.

They also looked at chemical traces in the teeth and bones of herbivorous animals to understand past vegetation. Large wild herbivores like elephants, rhinoceroses, aurochs, and bison played a vital role in maintaining these open spaces. These animals kept the landscape open by grazing, eating vegetation, and disturbing the soil. The researchers note that the disappearance of these large animals and the decline of traditional grazing practices transformed the European landscape.

This shift became particularly dramatic in the last 100 years as extensive traditional grazing vanished from large areas. Professor Jens-Christian Svenning and co-author Szymon Czyzewski warn that current reforestation programs may be heading in the wrong direction. They argue that planting dense, uniform forests can harm biodiversity because many European species evolved in mixed habitats. The scientists recommend creating a mosaic of forests and open spaces, which includes reintroducing large wild herbivores to help restore the natural balance.