Bark Beetles in the forests straddling the Czech-Austrian border have sparked a political argument. The Austrians want to see decisive action taken to counter the plague of pests.The authorities in charge of the Sumava National Park – the Czech side of the Bohemian Forest are now using chemicals and chainsaws to battle the bugs. But environmental activists are critical of the action, claiming that tree clearing and excessive use of toxic agents pose a greater threat than the bark beetles themselves.
