Bark Beetle Attack on Pines in a Steep Protection Forest in Carinthia

For about five years declining symptoms (needle browning and cast) have been observed on Pinus sylvestris in a very steep protection forest area in the community of Bleiberg-Kreuth in Carinthia. The main reason for the dying of the trees was the bark beetle Ips acuminatus which apparently tends to mass gradation, if the natural power of resistance of the trees is reduced due to drought, storm and hail. Because of the steepness of the slope no control measures have been carried out so far.