While inspecting a property in a protected area of Gauja National Park, experts have detected the European spruce bark beetle, which has overcome its tree species barrier and destroyed not only spruce, but many pine trees as well. The decision on future action to control the pests in the specially protected nature area will need to be taken by a group of experts.
On Tuesday morning, the State Forest Service (VMD), accompanied by a leading forest entomologist, arrived for an inspection in one of the protected parts of Gauja National Park. The owner pointed out the pine trees destroyed by the European spruce bark beetle.
Kārlis Zariņš, the son of the forest owner, said: “I went into the forest this year, and I was quite shocked by what has happened here.”
As the situation described is atypical, the specialists arrived with a certain degree of scepticism.
Forest entomologist Agnis Šmits, after examining one of the trees, said: “It seems to be true, it is the spruce bark beetle, and on a pine. That is already quite a miracle. Why would it be so desperate as to eat a pine? (..) In principle, it is about the same as a human eating straw. I have seen the European spruce bark beetle attack pines twice in my life. This is that situation. I have not seen so many pines being eaten like this before. Well, normally in this type of habitat, almost all spruce trees of any significant thickness should perish. And the pines would be the ones that survive.”
The same surprise was expressed by VMD senior expert Vasilijs Kolačs, who has been working in the forest for forty years. “It is worrying if this bark beetle starts eating a tree species that is unsuitable, that causes a bit of concern,” added V. Kolačs.
The specialist avoided commenting on how the situation will develop, as he too is seeing damage to pines on this scale caused by the European spruce bark beetle for the first time.
“I used to be a great optimist and always told people that we would not be left without forests in Latvia, because we have mixed stands,” explained V. Kolačs.
Usually, in a managed forest, when such a pest is found, it is recommended to contact the VMD, which, upon confirming the presence of the pest, recommends clear-felling the trees and removing them, and planting new ones in their place. However, the specific spruce and pine trees destroyed by the European spruce bark beetle are located in Gauja National Park – a protected area, including a site containing old-growth or natural boreal forests. Here, the decision regarding the fate of the trees must be taken by a wider circle of experts.
The VMD uses these thickets as an example of what happens if the European spruce bark beetle is ignored. Within a few years, the spruce trees fall, and in their place, hazel and other types of shrubs grow.
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