SWEDEN (News release) -- Södra has recently inventoried the injury situation for spruce after the summer spruce bark beetle attacks. Total estimated 750,000 cubic meters of damaged and dying on Södra's member properties. This area represents about half of the total forest area which indicates that about 1.5 million cubic meters can be damaged in Götaland.

- The inventory shows that the damage varies widely in Södra's area and not surprisingly, we find the most damage in the southeastern parts of Götaland, while the western areas have more normal levels of harm, says Olof Hansson, head of the Southern Forest.

Södra's inventory has been made in more than 200 properties and provides a preliminary picture of skogsskadors scope and geographical spread. What percentage not detected is difficult to assess, but the situation is certainly worse because trees attacked late in the season can still have green needles color.

- As forest owners, it is important that you inventory your property as soon as possible to identify the damage. We call for self-activity when attacks are of limited scope and we will help forest owners in need.

Harvesting is already in full swing in several places and the work will last throughout the fall and winter. By felling infested trees, timber value to some extent saved. Getting the bugs out of the wood also reduces the damage for the coming season.