Bavarian Forest reports significant decline in bark beetle damage

The bark beetle situation in the Bavarian Forest has significantly eased, according to Bavarian Economic Minister Hubert Aiwanger and forestry representatives. During a site visit in Spiegelau, officials from the Bavarian State Forests, the National Park administration, and private forest owners reported historically low levels of beetle-damaged wood in the Freyung-Grafenau and Regen districts.

In the National Park, damaged wood currently stands at approximately 4,000 cubic meters, a sharp decline from the record 140,000 cubic meters recorded in 2023. Similarly, the Bavarian State Forests reported a decrease from nearly 1.4 million cubic meters in 2024 to approximately 164,000 cubic meters so far in 2026.

Despite the positive trend, Minister Aiwanger cautioned that there is no reason to relax vigilance. He noted that many trees remain weakened by previous heat and drought, necessitating continued monitoring, early detection of infestations, and the rapid removal of damaged wood from the forest.