Prague foresters planted more trees and felled less woodland in 2025 — bark beetle retreats, but fungal disease takes hold

The city organisation Prague Forestry and Fishery (LHMP) has published its results for 2025: 231,417 saplings were planted in new forest plots, and including infill planting in existing stands, the total number of new trees reached 296,307 — almost double the figure from the previous year. Of all the saplings, 89% were broadleaf species and 11% conifers, with oak leading the way at 153,410 trees planted.

At the same time, logging volumes fell: 5,912 cubic metres of timber were harvested, compared with 6,835 cubic metres in 2024. According to the organisation, the decline is mainly due to a 54% drop in so-called unplanned felling, carried out for safety reasons or because of diseased trees. Planned felling, on the other hand, grew in share, accounting for 57% of all work carried out, reflecting the gradual rejuvenation of the age structure of Prague's forests.

Bark beetle in retreat, but fungi move in

Felling of spruces and larches affected by bark beetle fell by 60% compared with 2024 and was needed almost exclusively in the Hodkovičky area, which includes Kunratice Forest. However, the problem of fungal diseases affecting broadleaf trees grew significantly, accounting for 70% of all unplanned felling. The foresters' main headache is a fungal disease affecting ash trees: removal of infected trees made up 52% of all interventions in broadleaf stands in 2025.

Wild boars, coypu and an overcrowded rescue station

Foresters also worked on capturing wild boars, which appeared in Motol, in the "Herclovka" garden colony in Prague 8, and on the grounds of the "Zahradnictví Ďáblice" nursery, which is managed by LHMP. In total, 77 wild boars were caught or culled in non-visitor areas of the capital over the year — 38 more than the year before. Specialists also tackled invasive coypu at 15 locations, with Šeberák pond added to the list this year.

The wildlife rescue station run by the organisation took in 7,684 animals over the year — 892 more than in 2024. Three-quarters of the patients were birds, with the rest mostly mammals. After a long wait, the station received a new building in Jinonice, whose construction was completed by Prague City Hall.

New trees in parks and on the streets

Besides forests, LHMP is also responsible for five large parks, individual tree-lined avenues and 195 memorial trees across the city. Last year, 329 trees were planted in Prague's parks and streets — 29 more than the year before. This figure includes both new plantings and replacements of diseased or damaged trees. The largest number of new saplings — 110 — was planted in Letná.

Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz