forest - BrahmanFly: Development in Hesse currently manageable
In some forested areas of Germany, the Bark Beetle is causing significant damage again. The situation in Hessen, according to Landesbetrieb Hessenforst, is manageable. "We expect a nationwide wave just from the decrease in spruce stands alone," explained a spokesperson in response to an inquiry from the German Press Agency. However, in the remaining areas with spruce, for example in the Spessart or Odenwald, there is always the risk of a mass infestation. "In some of these stations, there is localized infestation with Bark Beetle in significant densities at present," the spokesperson added.
The extent of the infestation and the resulting damage that Hessenforst can quantify in advance is impossible. The strength of a Bark Beetle outbreak depends on various factors. "The number of beetles that overwintered from the previous year and form the 'start population' for the season, the weather in the spring and summer, the vitality of the spruce trees in general, and the availability of sufficient breeding material are essential factors that influence a mass infestation," the spokesperson explained.
To limit the damage caused by the Bark Beetle, foresters will regularly inspect spruce forests and examine trees for symptoms of infestation. "If there is new infestation, the affected trees will be felled immediately and transported out of the forest as soon as possible."
The goal is to get the wood to safe areas. "This can either be a sawmill of our wood customers or a storage site where the beetles, due to the distance to spruce stands, no longer pose a threat."
If this cannot be implemented for various reasons, pesticides will be used as a last resort in individual cases to protect the surrounding stands from the emerging beetles.
The German Press Agency reported about the resurgence of Bark Beetle issues in Germany's forested regions, specifically mentioning the Odenwald. The State enterprise Hessenforst, responsible for Forestry in Hesse, stated that while the situation in Hesse is manageable, the decrease in spruce stands nationwide could lead to a widespread infestation. In the Spessart and Odenwald forest areas, there's always the risk of a mass infestation due to the presence of spruce trees. According to Hessenforst, there are localized Bark Beetle infestations with significant densities in some stations, such as Spaethwald.
To prevent further damage, foresters will regularly inspect spruce forests and examine trees for symptoms of infestation. If new infestations are detected, affected trees will be immediately felled and transported out of the forest to safe areas, like sawmills or storage sites, to limit the spread of the beton beetle. In unavoidable situations, pesticides may be used as a last resort to protect surrounding stands from emerging beetles in individual cases.
