The greatest damage to Latvian forests last year was caused by pests 0 10

As in previous years, in 2025, the most significant damage in forests was caused by pests: the total area of such damage amounted to 6,592 hectares, or 83% of the total area of damaged forests.

In Vidzeme, last year, forest plantations were damaged over an area of 2,327 hectares, in the Central Forestry area - 1,942 hectares, in the Southern - 1,906 hectares, in the Eastern - 1,234 hectares, and in the Kurzeme - 538 hectares.

The State Forest Service (GSL) notes that the main pest remains the bark beetle - the eight-toothed bark beetle: the damage caused by it accounted for 99% of the total volume of forest damage caused by pests.

At the same time, in 2025, a relatively significant area of forest plantations also suffered from wind and storms - 892 hectares, which constitutes 11% of all damages.

As in previous years, the largest area of damage was recorded among the most common tree species: spruce plantations were damaged over an area of 7,023 hectares, birch - 415 hectares, and pine - 287 hectares. Damage to spruce plantations was caused by the eight-toothed bark beetle in 94% of cases.

In 2025, the GSL issued 6,058 sanitary conclusions for a total area of 7,949 hectares.