Alarm in Thuringia's forests: sooty bark disease threatens maple trees!

Alarm in Thuringia's forests: sooty bark disease threatens maple trees!

Things are becoming increasingly serious in the forests of Thuringia: sooty bark disease is spreading and unsettling many forest visitors and foresters. The majestic sycamore trees are particularly affected. This diagnosis is becoming more and more common – and the symptoms are alarming. As the MDR reported, the origins of this disease are the microscopic fungal spores that form a soot-like layer. The wind carries these spores over long distances, making control even more difficult.

Sooty bark disease, caused by the fungus Cryptostroma corticale, is not only a threat to trees, but can also become a problem for humans. Allergic reactions and chronic lung problems are potential consequences Forest knowledge explained. It is primarily forestry and woodland workers who are at risk from intensive contact with the spores.

Another chapter in the history of sooty bark disease

Sooty bark disease was first documented in Great Britain in 1945 and has found its way to Europe via North America. Since its introduction in Germany in 2005, the disease has spread primarily in urban areas. The Residential forestry is therefore increasingly faced with the challenge of quickly removing infected trees.

Avenues and parks, where the trees are often close together, provide a particularly critical environment. Here the spores can spread extremely quickly. The major summer heat periods since 2015 have made the situation even worse and are causing more and more trees to have to be felled. In cities such as Bonn in particular, 500 affected sycamore trees have been documented, but the affected forest stands have also increased significantly in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen and beyond.

The health of urban trees remains at risk, especially in areas with high levels of nitrogen oxide emissions. Air pollution has a negative effect on the resistance of trees, which also promotes sooty bark disease. Reports speak of an increased felling campaign, which is particularly necessary in urban areas in order to stop the spread.

The challenges posed by sooty bark disease require decisive action. Dead trees must be removed wearing protective suits and transported away in closed containers. These trees then end up in large industrial incineration plants. With climatic changes, warm summers between 25 and 30 degrees are driving the spread of this disease, which has kept more and more people and forestry professionals on tenterhooks since its discovery almost 10 years ago.