Bavaria, Austria call on Czechs to fight bark-beetle infestation

Bavaria and Austria, which both border on the Czech Republic, have urged the Czech Environment Ministry to fight the growing bark-beetle infestation in its borderland areas. In an open letter to Environment Minister Martin Bursik they say that the situation is growing untenable and remind the Czech authorities of bilateral agreements that bind the Czech Republic to prevent the spread of bark-beetle infestation along a certain stretch of the common border. Both Austria and Bavaria are taking measures to fight the spread of bark-beetle on their territory but say their efforts are undermined by the lack of cooperation from Prague. The mayors of Czech towns in the Sumava region are currently engaged in a heated dispute with the Environment Ministry over whether the bark-beetle should be eliminated in various zones of the protected national park.