(Reuters) - Long spells of hot, dry weather have brought the worst bark beetle infestation in two decades to eastern France, ruining conifer forests and causing timber prices to plummet as forestry firms fell trees before they are damaged.
Timber industry organisation Fibois Grand Est estimates that three to four million cubic metres of French public forests will be infected this year, equivalent to half the annual supply of spruce wood. In 2018, 1.2 million cubic meters were infected, costing the industry nearly 80 million euros.