A recent report from the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN) covering the years 2016 to 2024 highlights that the severe impacts of heatwaves, forest fires, and the historic drought of the summer of 2026 were not included in the analysis. The report points out that forests across France are suffering from increased mortality due to a combination of climate stress and biological threats such as fungi, insects, and bacteria. Prolonged droughts and high temperatures weaken trees, making them more susceptible to infestations by wood-boring insects, particularly bark beetles. These factors have led to a rise in tree deaths, even as the total area of forests has expanded. In Metropolitan France, forests cover about 17.7 million hectares, which is nearly a third of the country's land. Between 2016 and 2024, the annual volume of dead wood increased significantly, reaching an average of 18.1 million cubic meters per year. This is more than double the average of 7.4 million cubic meters per year recorded between 2005 and 2013. According to the National Forest Inventory (IFN), this represents about 0.6% of the total volume of living trees. Despite the expansion of forest areas—approximately 100,000 hectares added each year over the past 15 years—forest health has deteriorated, with 9% of trees affected, primarily in the Northeast region. The decline in forest health has also impacted their ability to support biological production, which refers to the growth of all trees. Over the last decade, the average annual biological production has decreased by about 8% compared to the period 2005 to 2013. This decline is linked to the overall poor condition of the forests, which also affects their role as carbon sinks. Carbon sinks are natural systems that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change. The report notes that the average annual carbon sequestration by French forests dropped from 63 million tons of CO2 between 2005 and 2013 to 39 million tons between 2016 and 2024, a "notable slowdown" of about 38%. Despite this decline, the IGN observes that the carbon sink capacity of French forests has shown signs of stabilizing in recent years. This is an important consideration for France's overall climate strategy, as forests play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report underscores the need for continued monitoring and management of forest ecosystems to maintain their environmental benefits.