Bavaria reports decline in bark beetle forest damage

Bark beetle damage in Bavarian forests has seen a significant decline according to recent statistics. Data from the Bavarian State Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry (LWF) indicates that reported damaged wood volumes in 2025 decreased by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2024.

Despite this overall reduction, the regional distribution of the infestation is shifting. While previous years were characterized by massive outbreaks in Northern Bavaria and Franconia, the focus of the damage is increasingly moving toward the south, with Upper Bavaria emerging as a major center of activity.

While the number of caught bark beetles has dropped by approximately one-third, experts warn against complacency. The 2026 swarm flight has already begun, and environmental factors such as heat and drought continue to increase the risk of infestation.