Bark beetle infestation in Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
Bark beetle infestation in Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park stretches across 10,000 hectares in western Rhineland-Palatinate and extends into Saarland. The map from DLR's EO Wald web service shows the decline in canopy cover at the park since 2017, which primarily affects the spruce forests. The pattern here is typical for losses due to bark beetles. The unusually intense periods of drought and heat between 2018 and 2020 caused initial stress and weakened the trees, while creating the ideal conditions for bark beetles, whose population skyrockets in dry heat. Spruce trees, in particular, are unable to recover after an infestation. At the relatively young national park, they are being removed in certain areas as part of a long-term strategy, while in other locations the decision was made to let nature take its course.
