Sierra Gelada

The hills behind our home are the Sierra Gelada....a recognised Spanish Natural Park. Pine trees cover the steep slopes going down to the sea.
Today's Blip shows a beetle box trap, one of many, which has been put there by the Forest Rangers.

The Pine Shoot Beetle is eating its way up the coast, from south of Murcia...and has reached the Communidad Valenciana.

Wild fires, in the summer, were the main danger facing the forests...but now....the Pines having been considerably weakened by the 2 year drought .... are not able to produce enough resin to defend themselves from the deadly Pine Shoot beetle.
Those trees which have already been felled by the destructive beetle are being removed and destroyed.