Its name is 'Buchdrucker' and it belongs to the bark beetle family. It is also known as the birch bark beetle. Right now, this little pest is making our lives difficult by attacking our trees with gusto and threatening our spruce population. Instead of harvesting or preparing for the harvest, we are keeping a close eye on our trees. As soon as we spot the signs, the affected tree must be felled.
One thing at a time.It is considered a significant forest pest.It lays its brood systems beneath the bark of its host trees, which is why it is classified as a subcortical breeder. In cooler years, spruce trees manage to mobilise their defences and seal the pest's bore holes. In particularly hot years (such as 2003 or 2018), this exceeds their capacity and natural self-regulation fails. Affected trees must then be felled immediately and removed from the forest.
For us, this means we currently need to focus all our energy and attention on this issue. Naturally, that energy is then missing elsewhere. From this year's economic cycle perspective, we can make good use of the timber from the affected spruces, because – due to the heat – there is less elephant grass this year. The spruce wood goes into wood chip production and fuels the stills.
Market impact
On the timber market itself, the Buchdrucker creates both short-term and long-term consequences. In the short term, prices drop because a large volume of lower-grade construction timber becomes available. In the long term, however, the opposite occurs, as stocks decline dramatically. At some point, a supply shortage will inevitably follow.
With a generous perspective, one could interpret the Buchdrucker's rampage as nature's own strategic move. What is clear is that the spruce is not a native tree at our elevation. Moreover, monocultures always carry a certain risk.
We will continue to keep watch, monitor our spruces closely, and act swiftly when necessary. Because a healthy forest is the foundation of an intact natural world.
