In Switzerland, damage caused by bark beetles has been increasing since 2021. Left: the volume of beetle-damaged wood in m³, right: the number of areas and sites affected; red: unplanned logging summer, yellow: unplanned logging winter, white: infested trees left standing, black line: the number of areas and sites affected over time © Waldschutz Schweiz
At 436,600 m³, the unplanned logging of beetle-damaged wood in the summer of last year increased by 8% compared to 2022. The number of areas and sites affected by bark beetle infestation rose by 14% to almost 9,500. In total, 713,000 m³ of spruce trees were damaged in 2023 (+10% compared to 2022). According to Waldschutz Schweiz, an information and consulting platform specializing in matters relating to forest protection, this volume is calculated by adding “the actual unplanned logging volumes in summer, the estimated unplanned logging volumes in winter and the beetle-damaged trees left standing, based on experience from the past 20 years”. In 2023, the average number of beetles caught per trap was 24,600, which corresponds to an increase of 77% compared to 2022.
The cantons of Neuchâtel, Solothurn and Vaud are most affected by damage from bark beetle infestation.
