Forestry specialists are raising the alarm: one of Latvia's most aggressive pests, the bark beetle, is spreading rapidly through the forests. Vidzeme, Sēlija and Pierīga are suffering the most. The presence of this pest is a death sentence for spruce trees, and even 50-year-old trees are dying as a result.

(...) the spread of the pest in Latvia has increased significantly in the last four years. Bark beetles primarily multiply in weakened spruce stands, and they are currently affecting Vidzeme, Sēlija and Pierīga the most. Strong winds and a dry summer are just some of the reasons why the bark beetle is spreading too quickly.