On Friday 20 March 2026, International Day of Forests, Luxembourg’s Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation said it is sounding the alarm in a press release detailing that four fifths of indigenous trees in the Grand Duchy are sick or threatened with death.
In response to this silent crisis, the foundation has announced it is mobilising public partners, private companies and citizens around three major forestry projects, combining ecological restoration, scientific research and public awareness.
AB Forêts: Restoring for Tomorrow
Supported by the National Relief Fund of Grand Duchess Charlotte for a two-year period, the AB Forêtsproject aims to transform degraded forest stands, classified as C status, into habitats of excellence at Clervaux, Schieren and Grevenmacher, all owned by the Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation.
The project is directly aligned with the objectives of the third National Nature Protection Plan (PNPN3), which targets the improvement of 592 hectares of BK13 forest biotopes by 2026 and 1,183 hectares by 2030. Among the species the project seeks to protect is the wildcat (Felis sylvestris), whose presence indicates the quality of wooded habitats.
In practice, interventions combine mechanical or manual removal of unstable spruces, planting of certified local species, installation of protective fences made of untreated spruce wood and horse-assisted timber extraction where conditions allow — all practices that minimise soil compaction. Invasive black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) will be debarked to encourage the return of native species.
A rigorous scientific component accompanies the work: camera traps to detect protected or invasive species, data encoding in the National Museum of Natural History database and annual educational workshops for pupils and the general public. Part of the forestry work will be entrusted to social enterprises focused on professional reintegration.
#PlanztMat 2.0 in Niederfeulen: When the Press Engages for the Forest
Initiated in 2023 by Mediahuis Luxembourg, the #PlanztMat campaign illustrates the power of citizen mobilisation with Wort readers: 25,000 trees planted, 64 young plants individually protected and 5,960 m of fencing installed across 18.55 hectares of resilient mixed forest in the commune of Surré.
The campaign now enters a new phase, targeting a particularly devastated site in Niederfeulen: 100,000 m2 of spruce monoculture completely destroyed by bark beetles. To regenerate this area, several interventions are planned on two-hectare plots, including planting birch coppices, mixed oak forests and beech stands, promoting natural regeneration and converting coppices into high forest.
A donation of €100 enables the regeneration of 100 m2 of forest. A new fundraising campaign has been launched to finance these urgent works. The need is critical: without intervention, it could take up to thirty years for a partially closed canopy to naturally re-establish — and even then, nothing is guaranteed given the pressure exerted by deer populations on young shoots.
Klimabësch: Science Supporting Forest Resilience
In the commune of Clervaux, a partnership between Hëllef fir d’Natur, Indosuez Wealth Management and the Fondation pour le Climat, under the aegis of the Luxembourg Foundation, has given rise to the Klimabëschresearch project. Its objective is to transform a spruce monoculture into a species-rich forest reserve and to derive lessons applicable across the national territory.
Experimental plots will be monitored over the long term to determine which mixed forest compositions best withstand climate hazards and how wildlife influences natural regeneration. The results will feed directly into Luxembourg’s future forest management strategies.
“At Indosuez, we are committed to supporting initiatives that drive significant and sustainable change in the face of global challenges such as climate transition,” said Olivier Carcy, CEO of Indosuez Europe.
Tonika Hirdman, CEO of the Luxembourg Foundation, added: “Climate change represents an urgent threat to the health of forests and biodiversity,” emphasising the importance of preserving the capacity of forests to sequester carbon.
On International Day of Forests, the Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation called for collective awareness: restoring Luxembourg’s forests is not optional — it is urgent. Through field projects, scientific research and citizen mobilisation, the Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation is charting a path towards sustainable forest ecosystems for current and future generations.
