Storms damaged forests more than bark beetles this year
Latvia's State Forest Service has found that bark beetle damage to forests fell considerably this year, while the number of trees damaged or felled by storms rose significantly.
Storms have done more harm to Latvian forests this year than bark beetles. This is the conclusion of the State Forest Service, the state body that oversees forest management and forest health. The service reached it after analysing the number of sanitary opinions issued during the first three quarters of 2026.
According to the service, losses caused by bark beetles have fallen substantially this year. At the same time, the number of trees damaged or knocked down by storms has risen markedly.
Bark beetles are pests that damage trees, so their spread and storm damage are important indicators when assessing the condition of the country's forests. The source gives no specific figures on the number of opinions issued or the volume of damaged trees, so the exact scale of the change cannot be determined from this information.
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