State of the Environment in
Vennesla 2001

 
Norsk

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Fungus damage on pine trees.

Many people have observed that pine trees in Vennesla are unusually brown this year. Large areas of the forest are burnt out and the forest owners are very worried.

This is mainly due to a particular fungus, which dries out the trees. This is a rather common fungus, but it rarely appears in such large quantities as this year. It attacks the branches  of pines that are young. This leads to the death of the needles from the base of the needle to the tip of it. This assault is first discovered when the needles turn brown and the damage is visible. In the summer the fungus spreads, but the real damage appears first in winter, when trees are hibernating. Then the fungus slips into the first layer of the bark. It is mainly young wood that is most vulnerable to this fungus, while other trees have a much greater chance of survival. It is most common inland.

A mild autumn and winter is probably the greater cause of the fungus attack this year. Most of the forest that is infected will become green again, and most of the trees will survive, but some have turned completely brown and are sure to die.

In Vennesla it is most common north of Drivenes and the forests surrounding the villages Øvrebø and Hægeland.

It is not practical to initiate counter measures against this fungus. The researchers´ opinion is that nature has to run its course.

Affected pine. The forest owners we have spoken with, have never seen anything like this, in 25 years.

We have talked to some forest owners about how their pine forest is affected by this fungi attack.

Most of the forest owners in Øvrebø claim that some of the pines are damaged, but most of them will survive. As long as the top isn’t hurt, they’re sure that the trees will get better.

But in Hægeland it’s worse. Here a lot of the seedling forest is affected by this strong fungus attack, and to a forest owner this is a very sad sight.

One forest owner we talked to says that many of the trees are very brown, almost burnt, and they will probably die. Economically this doesn’t mean anything for most of the forest owners, but for those who do this for a living it might lead to a small economic loss.

Emotionally this is a big loss. All the hard work seems to be in vain.

None of the forest owners have experienced this earlier. They have noticed that some of the pine needles have turned brown, but never like this!

There isn’t much the forest owners can do. Nature most run its course.

Affected by fungus attack Not affected by fungus attack One forest owner we talked to, thinks that ca 25% of his pine forest is affected, but he is convinced that these trees will survive.

Sources:

Fædrelandsvennen 31.05.20

The Norwegian institute for forestry www.nisk.no

Forest owners in Øvrebø and Hægeland

English dictionary, kunnskapsforlaget W.A. Kirkeby