European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) agreement No. 24-00-C0LA1601-000033
Project partners are LSFRI "Silava" (leading partner), Riga Forests Ltd., Entomological Society of Latvia, Peltman Ltd., The Forestry Services Cooperative Society "Mūsu Mežs", and EcoSolutions and Environmental Resources Management Ltd.
Total funding of Project is 296,288.00 EUR.
The aim of the Study is the development of the technology/algorithm for the early detection of sharp-dentated bark beetle (Ips acuminatus Gyllenhal.) infestation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands.
During the last decades, the frequency of the sharp-dentated bark beetle (Ips acuminatus Gyllenhal.) damaged Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands has rapidly increased in Latvia. However, harvesting infested trees at an initial stage of the invasion could reduce the negative effects of sharp-dentated bark beetle outbreaks, for which the method for early detection is necessary. The technology/algorithm for the early detection of changes in crown vitality (needle pigment content) and the spectral properties of infested tree crowns will be based on vegetation indices, integrating remote sensing methods with monitoring of insect outbreak. The technology/algorithm is intended as an open-access spatial analysis tool for the early diagnosis of six-toothed bark beetle infestation in Scots pine stands using publicly available satellite images (e.g. Sentinel-2).