It was last week that the Forest Agency issued a press release that new attacks on the spruce bark drill sweep across the county. At its worst, it is in the southern parts.

- The attacks have increased tremendously. We have serious problems with the spruce bark drills in the county. Harvests are underway regularly now, says forest consultant Stefan Forsberg at the Swedish Forest Agency.

Natural enemies

The ornithologist Benny Fredriksson, on the other hand, thinks it is not the right method to cut down the trees.

- I think it's a hysteria this with the fir bark drill attacks. There are scientists who believe that you should leave it because then natural enemies take care of it. If you just let it be then it will not be such a big attack.

- The consequence is also that bio-valuable forest will disappear. Birds and insects and the entire ecology are also affected.

"Breaking the trend"

But according to the forest consultant Stefan Forsberg, it is a necessary measure to go in and cut down the affected trees, but share the view to take into account wildlife.

- Of course, the spruce bark drill is an insect to be found in the forest but when there are such swarms then it takes over, then we have to go in and break the trend.