Stopping bark beetle infestation: that's what experts advise

Its development was slowed down significantly by the cool, damp weather, but the danger it poses is by no means averted.

We are talking about the bark beetle.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen / Miesbach

- For this reason, the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forests Holzkirchen (AELF) and the forest owners' associations (WBV) Wolfratshausen and Holzkirchen call on forest owners to control their spruce forests. “Especially when the weather is dry, there is a good opportunity to identify infested trees at an early stage. When the beetles eat under the bark, they throw out brown dust, which can be found on the ground, on the bark, in cobwebs or on the ground vegetation, ”explains the forestry division manager, Christian Webert. "Anyone who recognizes this first infestation and brings the infested spruce out of the forest in good time has the best chance of preventing new trees from re-infesting."

Particular attention is required, especially where bark beetle damage occurred last year. Michael Lechner, chairman of the WBV Holzkirchen and Johann Killer, chairman of the WBV Wolfratshausen, explain that infected trunks must be quickly processed and debarked, or transported at least 500 meters out of the forest. According to Webert, so-called “clean forest management” is the only effective and proven method to prevent mass reproduction, which can also cause larger forest areas to die.

In addition to free advice from the foresters of the AELF, the forest owners' associations also offer support in containing the bark beetles.

Since the control of the bark beetle and the preservation of the forests are in the interests of society as a whole, the state government supports the forest owners with this huge challenge with considerable financial resources.

“In addition, our forest rangers are there to give everyone the best possible advice and support,” adds Webert.    

Further information

is available on the Internet at www.aelf-hk.bayern.de.

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our new, regular Bad Tölz newsletter.