Tens of thousands of spruce trees have been attacked and died in Fiby primeval forest outside Uppsala, according to officials. The problems began during the summer of 2018 and worsened with Storm Alfrida in 2019, with the spruce bark beetle identified as the culprit attacking several nature reserves in the county. Sara Overud Wissman, a manager at the County Administrative Board in Uppsala County, stated, 'It has been dangerous for both visitors and us who work in the forests.
' The County Administrative Board has closed trails and advises against visits in six nature reserves: Hästhagen-Kilholmen, Ekdalen, Mässmyrfallet, Styggkärret, Sandviksåsen, and Fiby primeval forest, as reported by SVT Uppland. It has not been forbidden to be in the areas, but the constructed trails have been closed to reduce the risk for visitors, officials said. Now the time is approaching when the nature reserves can be opened again, according to officials.
It has been dangerous for both visitors and us who work in the forests. Therefore, we have chosen to close the trails in six nature reserves.
Wissman noted that most spruce bark beetle attacks around the trails have now subsided, and a large part of the dead spruce trees have fallen. She added, 'Now most of the spruce bark beetle attacks around the trails have subsided and a large part of the dead spruce trees have fallen. ' The County Administrative Board assesses that the greatest danger is over and that clearance work can begin, Wissman confirmed.
The specific clearance work to be done and the exact reopening dates for the nature reserves have not been disclosed, and the total number of spruce trees that have died across all affected reserves remains unconfirmed.
Now most of the spruce bark beetle attacks around the trails have subsided and a large part of the dead spruce trees have fallen. We therefore make the assessment that the greatest danger is over and that we can begin the clearance.