According to the report, trees have not yet recovered from the last three summers. They suffered from the heat, which is why many trees died in 2020.
The beech trees suffered, as the heat has weakened them considerably. Parasites and fungus also occur often, and many trees have died in recent years.
The Nature and Forest Agency regularly monitors the Grand Duchy’s forests. During the survey, the Agency’s workers mainly examine the tops of the trees, Martine Neuberg explains. They use binoculars to look at the amount of foliage or needles and the percentage of loss. They also look at any yellowing or the amount of fruit.
This summer was in itself good for the forests, but the root systems still have to recover. Even if the weather was too wet for bark beetles to thrive, they still did a lot of damage.
If only a few trees are infested, they can be cut them down and removed, so that the beetles and their larvae can be carried away. Otherwise, there is little to be done except replant.
However, it is important to ask the local forester or the Nature and Forest Agency in advance which type of tree would be most suitable. If only a few trees are removed, there is no need to replant, according to Neuberg, as nature will take care of itself.
In the case of planting, care must be taken to ensure that the tree species are adapted to the soil so that the forest has the optimum conditions to survive.
However, that scenario is actually quite difficult to accomplish. Forests are exposed to too many climactic extremes and climate change makes it difficult to select the right tree species.
