Šumava National Park management awaits green light for extensive logging

Tension is high in the Šumava National Park in southern Bohemia where the park’s management is waiting for a green light from the Environment Ministry to start extensive felling of bark-beetle infested trees. Monitoring groups of environment activists say they have come across thousands of trees bearing orange marks that slate them for felling in what is presently a no-intervention zone. The park’s new director Jan Straský confirmed the reports on Monday, but said that a single tree would not be cut down without permission. Environment Minister Tomáš Chalupa is still waiting for an expert analysis from critics of the plan before allowing logging to begin.