Czech forestry authorities intensify bark beetle monitoring

Forestry enterprises in the Czech Republic, including Lesy ČR (VLS), are intensifying efforts to monitor and prevent bark beetle outbreaks. Due to recent droughts and high summer temperatures, particularly in the Polabí region, forest resilience has been tested. To prepare for the spring swarm, authorities are combining traditional field inspections with satellite monitoring to identify areas where tree health may be declining.

VLS plans to expand satellite monitoring to its entire managed territory by 2027. Current defensive measures include securing logging capacities, maintaining precise records of infestation foci, and ensuring trained personnel are available to intercept outbreaks early.

In Ostrava, municipal monitoring of 1,956 ash trees has shown that treatments against the ash dieback pathogen are effective. The city plans to perform injections on 923 trees in 2027 to maintain their vitality. Additionally, Ostrava is launching a project in November to remove white mistletoe from 644 trees to protect urban greenery.