CZECH REPUBLIC

+112% of beetle-infested wood in the 1H

Article by Philipp Matzku, translated by Susanne Höfler | 16.07.2019 - 12:20

The total cutting volume amounted to 5.59 million sm³ (+17%) in the first six months.  Felling of used trees due to drought increased to 649,000 sm³ in June whereas the coincidental use due to wind and snow dropped by a third to 1.76 million sm³, as online portal silvarium.cz quotes.  

The state forest management expects an increase in the share of beetle-infested wood, spokeswoman Eva Jouklova states, since the cooler weather only delays the swarming of beetles. The largest volumes are expected to accrue in the regions of Vysocina, South Moravia and Moravia-Silesia.

Cutting of beetle-infested wood is predominantly taken care of by forest companies. Nonetheless, the state forest management detailed more than 1000 of its own forestry workers for timber cutting.

LČR expects an annual cutting volume of 12 million sm³, 9 million of which beetle-infested wood. In 2018, the cutting volume rose to 10.65 million sm³ (+32%). The share of beetle-infested wood doubles to 6 million sm³.