Summer storms caused record damage on forest roads

While the July storms with strong winds toppled trees, the heavy rain that hit Slovenia in early August mainly affected roads, the Forest Service said.

Damage is worst in northern Slovenia, in the basins of the rivers Drava, Savinja, Kamniška Bistrica, Sora and Mura. A total of over 1,500 kilometres of forest roads were damaged in 67 of Slovenia's 212 municipalities.

Most roads remain closed, preventing access not only to woodland but also to isolated farms, hamlets and tourist accommodation. This is the case above all in Koroška, the Upper Savinja Valley and Gorenjska, said the service.

Mostly, damage on forest roads was caused by debris flow, landslides and cave-ins. Bridges, retaining walls and other road infrastructure were also damaged.

"Still, many forest roads remain closed due to July windthrow." This is the worst damage ever recorded on forest roads in Slovenia, the service added.

An initial estimate indicates that repair works worth EUR 50 million will be needed to make roads safe again, including for wood transport.

The service is worried above all that inaccessibility of woodland will contribute to the spread of bark beetle over the next years, causing further damage.

Forest owners are not eligible for compensation, but they are eligible for co-financing of repair works.