A new national monitoring project is being rolled out to help prevent the potential spread of a serious pest affecting spruce trees. Volunteers are sought who have spruce growing in woodland that they own or manage, and who are willing to host and collect samples by installing a spruce bark beetle trap.
The objective of this project is to help monitor any potential movement of a serious tree pest, the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). By taking part in this project, volunteers will become part of an early-warning system and help action to be taken to limit the impacts of this pest. They will also be contributing crucial data to science that will help researchers in better understanding the biology of this pest and help shape policy and guidance for the sector. Another benefit of taking part is that if this pest is discovered breeding in a volunteer’s woodland, prompt action can be taken to limit damage. Whether the pest is found in their woodlands or not, volunteers will gain insights into management actions which may reduce the vulnerability of their woodlands.
The Ips Project is part of Forest Lab, an initiative run in partnership between Sylva Foundation and Forest Research.
