Timber industry referred to. - In Saxony's forests, the battle against bark beetles remains intense.
In Saxony, the bark beetle situation in the forests is still tense. Sadly, the warmer weather at the end of March caused an early swarming of these insects, which could potentially result in three generations forming by autumn, leading to excessive reproduction.
The Environment Ministry informed that the brood development is progressing, as the first generation of bark beetles has already appeared in the lower hilly areas, while larval stages still dominate in the upper regions of the Ore Mountains. The total infested wood volume is only slightly higher than last year.
Renke Coordes of the state-owned company Sachsenforst reported a high activity of beetles in vast numbers. Additionally, there are numerous old spruces in the Erzgebirge and Vogtland, as well as in some other locations, that could be subject to significant bark beetle reproduction.
The good water supply within the trees, being helped by the surplus precipitation in the winter months and current rainfall, positively impacts the spruce's resistance against beetle infestations. The production of resin by the trees typically prevents the beetles' procreation attempts.
However, bark beetles do not reproduce in dead wood - they thrive in living trees under the bark. But when there is a massive infestation, the trees die, but dead wood does not need to be removed from the forest for containing bark beetle damage. Instead, it is part of a natural forest management and serves as a crucial habitat for endangered animal and plant species and other lifeforms.
On the contrary, the bark beetles tend to infest freshly dead or damaged trees caused by storms or snow. Consequently, these trees and those infested with the beetles that still carry their eggs or larvae under the bark should be retrieved from the forests promptly.
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The German Press Agency reported on the ongoing battle against bark beetles in Saxony's forests, with the warm weather causing early swarming and potential for three generations this year. Despite the early infestations, the Environment Ministry stated that the total infested wood volume is only slightly higher than last year.
Renke Coordes, from Saxony's state-owned company Sachsenforst, indicated a high activity of bark beetles in vast numbers and numerous old spruces at risk in various locations. The good water supply within the trees, aided by winter's surplus precipitation and current rainfall, strengthens the spruce's resistance against beetle infestations.
According to BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety), bark beetles do not reproduce in dead wood; instead, they thrive in living trees and contribute to natural forest management by providing crucial habitat for endangered lifeforms such as animals and plants.
On the contrary, bark beetles tend to infest freshly dead or damaged trees caused by storms or snow. These infested trees and those with eggs or larvae under the bark should be removed promptly to prevent further spread of the beetles in the forests of Saxony.
The timber industry in Saxony is closely monitoring the situation and implementing measures to control the bark beetle population, as the extensive damage to the forest can negatively impact the region's economy and ecosystem, as well as the livelihoods of local animal species and communities reliant on forestry.
