Carbon-absorbing capacity of French forests in decline despite growing surface area

Forests are often presented as a major solution for combating climate change, thanks to their ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. But according to an analysis published on September 13, 2026 by Le Monde in its Décodeurs section, this storage capacity is diminishing in France, even as the country's forested area continues to grow.

According to this analysis, the apparent paradox is explained partly by the decline of an increasing number of trees. French forests, despite being more extensive than before, are facing pressures that affect their health and, consequently, their effectiveness in storing carbon.

Le Monde emphasizes that planting trees remains considered an appropriate response to climate change, but that the difficulties facing existing forest ecosystems add nuance to this perspective. The increase in wooded area alone would therefore be insufficient to guarantee a rise in the carbon-absorbing capacity of forests.

The article, presented in graphic form by Le Monde, highlights this trend without detailing in the excerpt consulted the precise causes of the observed decline or complete figures regarding the evolution of French forest surface area and storage capacity.