The impact of the mass outbreak of the spruce bark beetle on forest management and timber resource harvesting in Latvia

Study supported by the Forest Development Fund (agreement No. 24-00-S0MF01-000001)

The aim of the Study is to create an empirical data-based management strategy for spruce stands for the adaptation of the regulatory environment under conditions of increasing damage risk of the spruce eight-toothed bark beetle.

The tasks of Study:

1. To prepare a data-based assessment of the impact of spruce eight-toothed bark beetle (Ips typographus) damage in 2019-2024 per year to:
   a. segmentation and quality of wood products;
   b. the timber market and the competitiveness of the timber industry.
2. To evaluate the possibilities of using remote sensing data for the identification of spruce eight-toothed bark beetle damage, forest health status and the vitality of spruce stands in Latvia.
3. To evaluate and prepare data-based proposals for the management of spruce stands in Latvia, which would promote the cultivation of climate-resistant spruce stands, vitality in the future and reduce the impact and damage of the spruce eight-toothed bark beetle in spruce stands.
4. To evaluate the impact of the spruce eight-toothed bark beetle on non-productive spruce stands and to prepare proposals for further management and identification of non-productive spruce stands.
5. To carry out an evaluation of the existing forest management regulatory framework regarding the management of spruce stands and to provide data-based scientific proposals for adapting the requirements of forest management regulations for the cultivation of climate-resistant and vital spruce stands.