Forest in Change

Geography and Economic Education

4A Class, School Year 2020/21
Project Leader: Prof: Mag. Anita Pöckl
Bundesgymnasium and Bundesrealgymnasium Waidhofen an der Thaya (Austria)

Research question

How large is the spatial distribution of forest damage in the spruce and pine stock by the bark beetle in the Waldviertel region (case studies from the district of Waidhofen an der Thaya and Zwettl, Lower Austria) for the period from 2018 to 2020 due to longer periods of drought and global warming in the region?

Loading...

Loading...

1. Archaeology

The Waldviertel region (Austria) was only sparsely populated in the early Middle Ages. There were many big settlement-free areas and extensive forests covered the land. The natural wood were mixed in the past. Archaeology offers chronic examinations.
In the early Middle Ages there were mainly mixed forests with mostly beeches and fir dominant.
When was the human intervention the strongest and how did it change the tree population and the ecology of the forest?
In the first half of the 11th century the valley of Horner was settled. That changed the tree population very much. Then step by step the whole region of the Waldviertel was settled.

Loading...

2. The Problem of Bark Beetle Infestation and Forestry Management in the Waldviertel region (district of Waidhofen an der Thaya and Zwettl, Lower Austria)

In the last few years the forests were heavily infested by the bark beetle in the region Waldviertel (Austria). The special ‘bark beetle years’ were 2018 and 2019, a little weakened in 2020. The tree species mostly infested is the spruce. Also pine trees are often infested. Spruces aren’t going to be planted anymore in the Waldviertel region in the future. Instead, larch, marple, oak, European beech and many other species will be used, because deciduous trees are not attacked. It is set to mixed forests.

Loading...

Loading...

Legend:

Loading...

Loading...

Source: Government of Lower Austria, Forestry Division, 2018.

Loading...

Loading...

1. Archaeology

The Waldviertel region (Austria) was only sparsely populated in the early Middle Ages. There were many big settlement-free areas and extensive forests covered the land. The natural wood were mixed in the past. Archaeology offers chronic examinations.
In the early Middle Ages there were mainly mixed forests with mostly beeches and fir dominant.
When was the human intervention the strongest and how did it change the tree population and the ecology of the forest?
In the first half of the 11th century the valley of Horner was settled. That changed the tree population very much. Then step by step the whole region of the Waldviertel was settled.

Loading...

Loading...

Legend:

Loading...

Loading...

Category 5: very heavy infestation

Loading...

Category 4: heavy infestation

Loading...

Category 3: medium heavy infestation

Loading...

Category 1 and 2: to the usual extent

Loading...

Source: Government of Lower Austria, Forestry Division, 2018.

The forest has already mostly been destroyed In the district Waidhofen an der Thaya (north western of Lower Austria). An impressive example is the area of Raabs an der Thaya. Also the forest is destroyed in the military training area near Allentsteig. The spruces and pine trees which are still left are highly threatened.
For advising the forest owners in the district Waidhofen an der Thaya and Gmünd, the employees of the district forest inspection in Waidhofen an der Thaya and the forestry chamber secretary of the local district chamber are available. Since February 2021 there is also financial support from the state for forest owners, whose forest is/was infested.
The answer to the question if there have been mistakes in advising forest owners in the past is probably ‘yes’. It was recommended to plant only spruces. Today we know that the focus on just one tree species is not good.

If the forest is infested by bark beetles, the trees have to be removed as fast as possible. If that is not the case, the forest owner gets a written order from the forest authority to remove the wood within a corresponding period. It can be possible that almost all of the trees have to be cut down if all of the trees except for a small part of them are infested by bark beetles.

3. Bark beetle, Forestry and Forest of the Future

Climate change is also making a strong impact on bark beetles. The heat and dryness it triggers are optimal for the bark beetle. Since 2015, this phenomenon has been multiplying rapidly. Another reason for that is, for example, that spruce trees are planted in large areas and the bark beetle has so much attack surface. Particularly, the Waldviertel and the Muehlviertel region (Austria) are strongly affected by the bark beetle plague.

The damage caused by the insects has fallen since then, but still above average. The foresters are now helping themselves with the so-called stabbing knife for the chainsaw. In this process, grooves are cut into the bark to make it impossible for the beetle larvae to move.
The Austrian bark beetle monitoring was initiated in 2005 by the state forestry authorities and the forestry board of the Chamber of Agriculture. The aim of this service is to inform farmers and foresters, who suffer from a bark beetle plague, about the current flight situations of the most stubborn bark beetle species. These can then set up bark beetle traps to prevent the greatest possible damage.
In January 2020, a team of sniffer dogs was trained for the first time to detect infested trees. This method of fighting against this plague has already been successfully carried out in other beetle species, and it is a great help in the bark beetle plague. The dogs can sniff large and targeted trees so that they can then be removed.

Timber affected by bark beetle damage: 2003-2018

The damage caused by the insects has fallen since then, but still above average. The foresters are now helping themselves with the so-called stabbing knife for the chainsaw. In this process, grooves are cut into the bark to make it impossible for the beetle larvae to move.
The Austrian bark beetle monitoring was initiated in 2005 by the state forestry authorities and the forestry board of the Chamber of Agriculture. The aim of this service is to inform farmers and foresters, who suffer from a bark beetle plague, about the current flight situations of the most stubborn bark beetle species. These can then set up bark beetle traps to prevent the greatest possible damage.
In January 2020, a team of sniffer dogs was trained for the first time to detect infested trees. This method of fighting against this plague has already been successfully carried out in other beetle species, and it is a great help in the bark beetle plague. The dogs can sniff large and targeted trees so that they can then be removed.

Timber affected by bark beetle damage: 2003-2018

Source: Government of Lower Austria, Forestry Division, 2018.

4. Case Studies of affected forest areas in the Waldviertel region (Lower Austria) with the EO-Browser

BRUENDLBERG:

In 2018 there were around 50,000 solid cubic meters of firewood in the district of Waidhofen an der Thaya. The federal state of Lower Austria promised 1 million euros for immediate action against the bark beetle.
In December of 2020, over 1,000 trees were planted in the area of the Bruendlberg, for example sweet chestnut, sun linden tree, redwood trees and many more.

Replanted trees

Photos: Pausweg C., Loidolt S., 2021.