The most significant negative changes are in Aukštaitija and part of Dzūkija, with the most stable spruce forest condition remaining in the western part of the country. In the Krosnos and Žeimenos forest districts, all spruces monitored have died.
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The State Forest Service (VMT) reports that one of the biggest threats to spruce forests is the coincidence of two factors: an increased population of the bark beetle typographer due to favorable climate conditions and weakened spruces. This creates a particularly dangerous combination, and the stands become an easy target, with pest spread potentially reaching a massive scale.
In the Krosnos and Žeimenos forest districts, all spruces monitored have died.
Since 2024, VMT Forest Sanitary Protection specialists have been continuously monitoring 23 research plots across Lithuania. The studies focus on healthy but mature spruce stands, considered the most sensitive to bark beetle damage.
As of spring 2024, the situation looked optimistic – almost 90% of the monitored spruces were completely healthy. However, over two years, the average condition of spruce stands has deteriorated by more than one category. Many tree crowns have thinned, defoliation has increased, and some trees have clearly weakened.
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During the monitoring period: 17% of spruces died; about one-fifth of the trees’ condition worsened; only slightly more than half of the spruces remained unchanged in condition.
Foresters emphasize that continuous monitoring allows earlier detection of dangerous trends and prediction of new bark beetle typographer outbreak formations. Nevertheless, it is already clear – some Lithuanian spruce forests are experiencing one of the most difficult periods.
Climate change, droughts, and biological pests have a direct impact on our forests. Spruce – one of the most important trees in Lithuanian forests – is becoming vulnerable today.
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