The Czech state forestry administration, Lesy ČR, plans to plant approximately 52 million trees in 2024. The reforestation will cover more than 13,000 hectares, with a focus on ecologically resilient species such as deciduous trees. This initiative aims to create a new, more stable forest for future generations.
Earth Day yesterday brought ideal weather for reforestation. The soil, softened by recent heavy rainfall, provides optimal conditions for seedling growth. This year, Lesy ČR intends to restore 13,000 hectares of forest. Of these, 9,500 hectares will be planted with 52 million deciduous and coniferous seedlings; the remaining areas will regenerate naturally through seeding from standing trees.
“This year, we are planting 34 million deciduous trees and 18 million conifers — including beech, oak, maple, lime, alder, bird cherry and elm, as well as pine, fir and larch. We only plant spruce where it reaches its ecological optimum,” explains Libor Strakoš, Production and Technical Director at Lesy ČR.
The most extensive reforestation in 2024 will take place in Vysočina and South Moravia, where work began in March. “We also began in the mountainous regions of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory) at the beginning of April,” adds Strakoš.
Fewer Damaged Areas, More Natural Regeneration
This large-scale reforestation follows the bark beetle calamity of recent years. As the situation improves, the demand for new planting is gradually decreasing:
- 2021: 22,130 hectares reforested, 96 million seedlings
- 2024: 16,940 hectares reforested, 60 million seedlings
Foresters are also placing greater emphasis on natural regeneration — in 2023, 5,700 hectares (34% of the total reforested area) regenerated naturally.
Since 2015: 637 Million Trees for Czech Forests
Since 2015, 150,000 hectares of forest have been reforested in the Czech Republic, with 637 million seedlings planted — mainly in Vysočina, Moravia-Silesia, and South Moravia. “Success depends largely on the weather — unfortunately, there has been a precipitation deficit since the beginning of the year,” notes Strakoš. Nevertheless, seedlings planted between March and mid-April have the best prospects, thanks to favourable initial conditions. “If failures occur, we have replacement plants ready,” Strakoš concludes.
