Experts warn that bark beetles and repeated droughts have a detrimental effect on Europe’s native forests. Due to this combination, millions of cubic meters disappear in the inconspicuous insect clutches.
What Do We Know about Bark Beetles?
A small, tiny beetle, 4 – 5.5 mm in size, occurs in Europe, North Asia, and Asia Minor. Under normal conditions, the bark beetle is useful, feeding mainly on sick spruces. Overpopulated pests destroy even healthy trees; they do not refuse even pine, larch, or ate.
How to Recognize Infested Trees
At first glance, damaged trees can be recognized. Dry brown areas in green spruce forests can indicate the pest infestation. Once you can see fallen green needles under a tree, it is a sign of bark beetle damage. Another sign of a fight with the unwelcome insects is fresh strips of glutinous sap on a tree’s trunk. In this way, a tree tries to get rid of the pests. Unfortunately, trees cannot resist overgrown beetles. Extreme droughts have also weakened trees in recent years.
In areas where several decades-old trees used to grow, there are clearings nowadays. Partial deforestation is inevitable. Tree felling must continue because it is the only way to reduce the overpopulated bark beetle attack.
Impacts
According to DW news from July 2020, the Federal Statistical Office reported that “Around 32 million cubic meters (1,130 million cubic feet) of wood damaged by insects had to be removed from Germany’s forests in 2019.”
Experts estimate that 60 million cubic meters (2,260 million cubic feet) of wood will disappear in Czech forests this year, they expect a double increase next year.
Forests Recovery
European countries are currently working to plant new trees, both deciduous and coniferous. Mixed forests potentially reduce pest growth in the general sense.
The Government of the Czech Republic provided forest owners with EUR 100 million (CZK 2.7 billion EUR). And another 7 billion (260 million EUR) is going to pay out by the end of this year.
Volunteers in Germany and the Czech Republic participated in several tree planting projects.
Source and credit: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-forest-dying/a-54330242, https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%AFrovci, pixabay.com
