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For a couple of days, an emergency situation has been in effect in many regions of Latvia due to the spread of the bark beetle.<\/p>\n
Before the bark beetles, last year there was a panic in the firewood, pellets, briquettes and chips market. Not much an usual year, says Art\u016brs Bukonts, executive director of the Latvian Wood Industry Federation.<\/p>\n
Didzis Palejs, head of the Latvian Biomass Association, also admits that the situation on the market a year ago was not based on logic.<\/p>\n
Falling prices after a panic-induced rise, inflation, labor shortages, rising interest rates - the problems in the Latvian timber industry are largely the same as for everyone else.<\/p>\n
And now another bark beetle infestation is expected. Some representatives of the Latvian timber industry unanimously say that it is good that something is being done, because even if there are restrictions, it would be much worse to let the bark beetle just run rampant. You don't have to look far for examples - like in Germany. There are aspects that are better for us in Latvia than in Germany, therefore the example of Germany will probably remain only as a scary story, according to Didzis Palejs.<\/p>\n
The market as a whole does not expect any significant changes, as the major players have already noticed the risk of bark beetle and taken it into account. Bark beetle control will also be a job for the industry.<\/p>\n
Also, felling after the appearance of bark beetles does not mean that the trees are automatically suitable only for firewood. Palejs says, each forest owner will decide and see where to sell the felled trees<\/p>\n
But what should forest owners do, especially if the forest is in one of the risky regions, sell it cheaply? No! If you invest in a forest, you should also take care of it - and a thing that is taken care of will always bear greater fruits, reminds Bukonts. And these concerns should be long-term, because various risks, even if the same bark beetle will not disappear anywhere. Because climate change benefits the beetles, says Palejs from the Biomass Association.<\/p>\n
But what's next with the prices of timber for construction, heating and other things? Art\u016brs Bukonts says - there will be fluctuations, but in the long term - it is pointless to wait for a drop in prices.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For a couple of days, an emergency situation has been in effect in many regions of Latvia due to the spread of the bark beetle. Before the bark beetles, last year there was a panic in the firewood, pellets, briquettes … Continue reading