Bork beetle alarm in Traunstein: Forest owners have to act quickly!

Bork beetle alarm in Traunstein: Forest owners have to act quickly!

In the Traunstein region, there is acute danger from the book printer, a bark beetle species that increases exponentially due to the continuing heat. Wolfgang Madl from the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry warns that the problems for forest owners are huge and that the situation could further tighten due to the extreme drought. The warning level yellow applies to bark beetle infestation, but an increase in warning level is intended in the north of the district. The areas around Trostberg, Altenmarkt, Teisendorf, Saaldorf-Surheim, Surberg, Laufen and Ainring are particularly affected. Forest owners should look particularly closely here.

spruce that are the main food source of the book printer can only defend themselves with resin, which requires water that is not available if drought continues. As [Chiemgau24] (https://www.chiemgau24.de/chiemgau/traunstein-ort29586/Borkenkaeferfall-in-landkreisen- and-berchtesgadener-Land-warz-warnstufe-rot-93817282.html) have to be reported at forest owners Signs of an infestation, such as drilling flour, single -drill holes and demonstrations, act immediately. The forestry office offers courses for early detection so that endangered forest owners are fit in dealing with this sudden threat.

forest owners with challenges

The bark beetle population has increased significantly due to mild winter and residues of wood from past storms. The current warnings and legal obligations request quick reactions from the forest owners - infected trees have to be removed quickly to prevent further spread. In the event of neglect, the affected are threatened with warnings. The forestry office also has the right to fell trees on their own and to invoice the costs. This leaves no space for hesitant.

But the situation in Traunstein is not isolated. The forests through climate change are strongly challenged throughout Germany. Around four out of five trees show damage - a worrying statistics that are becoming increasingly alarming due to the increasing temperatures and more frequent drought. The Deutschlandfunk reports of over 700,000 hectares of malice areas in Germany and an economic loss of more than 25 billion euros. Not only the spruces are affected here; Other tree species, such as beech and pine, also suffer from the extreme conditions.

The way to the future

To meet these challenges, a conversion of the forests is sought. Promoting a higher diversity of tree species in order to create more resistant mixed forests is the declared goal. As explained in [Forstwirtschaft-In-Deutschland] (https://www.forstwirtschaft-in-deutschland.de/wald-im-klimastress/klimawä rawel/), the conversion to climate silicians is a long-term project that can take up to 100 years. Nevertheless, the first measures show after 15 to 30 years.

Future -like tree species such as oak, booking and even climate silicians from the Mediterranean are tested in order to cope with climate change. The promotion of mixed forests instead of monocultures is intended to ensure that the forests are less susceptible to disorders such as storms or pests. Private forest owners call for comprehensive support and modernization of the forest law.

The continued drought and the increasing bark beetle populations are a serious threat to the forest ecosystems. Forest owners are required to act quickly and to initiate the necessary steps to secure and maintain the forests for the coming generations.