Tree by tree against Luxembourg's forest dieback

"It's actually the perfect weather for planting, " comments one of the participants in the planting course on the grey sky. Optimism is a prerequisite for taking part in the annual training course organised by Lëtzebuerger Privatbësch. After all, the 17 participants are aiming to do nothing less than counteract the forest dieback that has been relentlessly and increasingly affecting Luxembourg's forests for over 20 years. In 2023, around 85.6 per cent of the trees tested in the Grand Duchy were moderately or severely damaged and around 14.5 per cent were slightly damaged. This means that a sobering low point was reached this year: none of the trees randomly tested by the Administration de la nature et des forêts (ANF) were in perfect health. With these statistics in mind, everyone grabs their tools and young plants and disappears into the early winter fog.