The following information is from the State’s Division of Forestry website and has some facts about the spruce bark beetle – one of the reasons that the Native Village of Napaimute is logging our land and hoping to expand that effort to adjoining lands.
This is the URL for more information: http://forestry.alaska.gov/insects/sprucebarkbeetle.htm
Here’s what we are seeing throughout the Middle Kuskokwim Region – mature and fully mature trees that are on their way out, many of which are susceptible to blowdown. Something needs to reset the clock – either fire or management of the timber which is what Napaimute is choosing to do.
What’s at the heart of the problem?

Heart Rot - an indication of an unhealthy forest, one that is over mature and rife for an insect infestation
The first 130 cords heading downriver to the coastal villages.