Trees hit by second highest bark beetle infestation
The level of spruce trees in Switzerland damaged by the bark beetle last year reached its second highest level ever recorded, after the hot summer of 2003.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
In 2019, bark beetle damage affected 1.4 million cubic metres of spruce, of which an estimated quarter of a million is still standing, according to a survey by the Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ResearchExternal link (WSL). This compares with 829,000 cubic metres in 2018.
It is the first time since 2005 that the level of infested wood has reached over a million cubic metres.
The reason for this is probably that a third generation of beetles could develop at lower altitudes under the warm, dry conditions in autumn 2018, says the WSL. Millions of larvae hibernated in the bark of the spruces, weakened the trees and had a good start in spring 2019. The summer of 2019, the third hottest since the start of measurements, did the rest, with food and habitat in abundance for the bark beetle.
The WSL recommends that forest services and forest owners remove infested wood “before the bark beetle flies out again in spring” to limit the spread of the beetle, which prefers relatively freshly dead trees.
Spruce is the most important timber tree in Switzerland, and spruce forests often have a protective function in the mountains.
More
More
Tree death observed after summer of 2018
This content was published on
After the very hot and dry summer of 2018, Swiss researchers studied the consequences of the extreme weather on forests and the water cycle.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
2019: fifth hottest year in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland has registered the fifth hottest year since records began in 1864, continuing a trend towards warmer weather which started after 2010.
This content was published on
As hot and dry 2018 comes to an end, the foliage seems more brilliant than ever. But how well equipped are Switzerland’s trees to survive droughts?
Scientists find native trees can withstand heatwaves
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Basel have found that native forest trees cope with high temperatures better than expected.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.