Climate crisis: Bark beetles are threatening Austria's forests like never before!

Climate crisis: Bark beetles are threatening Austria's forests like never before!

In Austria, the forest is severely threatened by the dreaded bark beetles. The species “book printer” and “copper engraver” in particular are considered to be the main causes of the problem and are among the most successful pests that attack spruce trees. Climate change and ongoing drought are weakening the trees so that they are no longer able to defend themselves against the beetles. According to Stefan Schörghuber, head of the Federal Forestry Department for Forest-Natural Area Sustainability, it is expected that the forests will be particularly badly affected this year, as many trees are weakened due to drought stress and cannot prevent the beetles from penetrating the wood noe.ORF.at reported.

In order to combat the attack of bark beetles, measures are being taken in the affected forests, which include, among other things, the use of special traps. During the season, which lasts from mid-March to the end of October, a total of 300 felled spruce trees are laid out as “trap trees” to attract the beetles. This strategy aims to quickly remove infected trees from the forest before the population increases exponentially. A single pair of bark beetles can produce up to 30,000 offspring within a year, which illustrates the urgency of countermeasures. The importance of mixed forestry is also pointed out in order to create a more stable diversity of tree species, as in wald.de is explained.

The bark beetle not only promotes the death of trees, but also the risk of calamities, such as severe tree death over large areas, increases with the increase in the beetle population. Particular attention is paid here to mixed forests, which promote balanced and healthy ecosystems, while coniferous forest monocultures are increasingly at risk. The bark beetle, whose activities are encouraged by ongoing drought and climate change, could become a major problem for forestry in Austria and beyond in the medium term.