Šumava Park management using powerful insecticides without permission

The head of the Šumava National Park is reported to have ordered the use of powerful insecticides to fight bark-beetle infestation without permission. The Environmental organization Friends of the Earth alerted the authorities to the problem highlighting the danger to other insects as well as to frogs and birds which feed on them. The insecticides were reportedly used in no-intervention zones with which man should not interfere. The Czech Inspectorate for Environmental Protection says the claims have been confirmed and the park management may receive a fine of up to one million crowns. The park’s management is pushing for radical measures in the fight against the bark beetle and was recently disappointed when the Environment minister refused to authorize massive logging, allowing only manual felling of trees which must be left to lie.