The forest report of the federal state of Tyrol contains alarming figures. According to this data, the bark beetle caused unprecedented destruction in East Tyrol last year. 100,000 cubic meters of damaged wood collected. In the rest of the country, the condition of the forest is still stable. But everywhere the forest offices are in a race against climate change.
The bark beetle did very well in East Tyrol last year. This is apparent from the 2021 Forest Report just presented. The voracious insects caused 100,000 cubic meters of damaged wood. This corresponds to the average amount of wood felled in a year. To compensate for this, 900,000 young trees have to be planted annually, twice as many as in normal periods.
With beetle traps and more foresters against the danger
“The situation is tense,” confirms the LHStv responsible for forestry. Josef Geisler (ÖVP). Climate change promotes the spread of the bark beetle. At lower altitudes, the trip is already expected in mid-June and at higher altitudes in mid-July. To prevent this, beetle traps were placed in the sensitive areas in East Tyrol. At the same time, the forest must be systematically thinned for newly affected trees. 42 additional forest rangers from North Tyrol will be deployed in East Tyrol for this purpose.
The share of spruce decreases from year to year
The rest of the country is not immune to developments such as those in the Lienz district. According to the forest report, the situation in North Tyrol is stable. Also because no natural phenomena have affected the forest in 2021. In the long run, forest administrations promote mixed forests that are more resilient to climate change. Of the 1.9 million seedlings planted last year, 200,000 were deciduous trees. The share of spruce has fallen from 56 percent (2017) to 43 percent.
The three state forest gardens can still cover the Tyrolean demand. Because demand is rising sharply, a cold store of over 2000 square meters for young plants will be built in Bad Häring in 2023.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
