Six nature reserves in Uppsala county have been closed for four years due to hazardous dead spruce trees from bark beetle attacks. The closures began after the dry summer of 2018 and Storm Alfrida in 2019. Officials now assess that the greatest dangers have passed and clearing can begin.
Tens of thousands of spruce trees in Fiby urskog outside Uppsala have been attacked and killed by spruce bark beetles. The issues started during the dry summer of 2018 and worsened with Storm Alfrida in 2019. The beetles have affected several nature reserves in Uppsala county, leading the County Administrative Board to close paths in six areas: Hästhagen-Kilholmen, Ekdalen, Mässmyrfallet, Styggkärret, Sandviksåsen, and Fiby urskog. Visiting the areas was not prohibited, but the trails were shut to reduce risks for visitors and workers. “It has been dangerous for both visitors and us working in the forests. Therefore, we chose to close the trails in six nature reserves,” says Sara Overud Wissman, manager at the County Administrative Board in Uppsala county. Now, most attacks around the trails have subsided, and many dead trees have fallen. “Now most of the spruce bark beetle attacks around the trails have ebbed out and a large part of the dead spruces have fallen. Therefore, we assess that the greatest danger is over and that we can start the clearing,” adds Sara Overud Wissman. Visitors can soon return to the affected forests.
