Most affected areas concentrate in the central parts of the country following a line from Northrhine-Westfalia in the West to Saxony in the East. So far it can be stated that dimensions of former storm events were not met (Vievien/Wiebke 1990: about 75 million m3; Lothar 1999: about 35 million m3).
Another difference compared with past storm events is that the economic framework conditions are much more favourable. Last year's strong demand for both, timber and fuelwood, is continuing. So timber markets should be able to absorb the volumes.
Work has just started to get the timber out of the forests. In this respect weather conditions have strongly improved since yesterday (temperatures fell significantly, heavy snowfall started in southern Germany). This should also help to better control development of beetle population and prevent from diseases.
Prevailing opinion in Germany is that the effects of storm Kyrill in the forests can be managed mainly by market driven instruments. Necessary policy action to support the processing concentrates on some measures, proved to be successful in the past (e.g. easements in taxes, facilitate transport, financial aid). Nordrhein-Westfalen Forestry
UNITED KINGDOM:
The damage levels in the UK are relatively low. England records a possibility of up to 50,000 cubic metres with Wales and Scotland reporting minor sporadic blow. Evaluations are still underway and UK representatives will send update if things change
FRANCE:
For France [data are incomplete] but [apparently] less than 300.000 m3 (more or less 150.000 m3 in public forests and it should be less in private forests because of the region where the storm hit France).