Pine trees dying apace🥹🥹

[WeLuvIbiza]

I have noticed quite a few pine trees in our locality that very quickly turn grey and die, followed by their toppling in the winds. On a small area probably 80m x 80m where we walk the dog, three have died over the past few months. Driving around the island it is very noticeable the number of 'grey' pine trees visible amongst the green of the other pines.

I am amazed there has not been widespread discussion about this in the media as it looks like it could do enormous damage, whatever 'it' is.
Just reading an article that suggests prolonged drought periods weaken the pine's defences against the usual dangers of beetles etc.

 

[stivi]

oh there has been discussion about it, but since there are more urgent problems for the island (housing prices mainly), it's never on page one of the media.

the pine trees have had a very hard last 5 to 10 years. it's a deadly mix of drought (or let's just say too dry winters in the past few years except this one now), plus you've got the processionary caterpillars and the 'tomicus' (pine shot beetle) beetle which we've got a real problem with here on the balearics and they both weaken the pine trees. the cocktail of all of that results in dying pine trees. and now that the soil has been very wet and has become soft after so much rain, with the storm winds, a lot of those dead pine trees have fallen (not just dead ones have fallen though).

one sad detail is this: most of you will know that we've got a snake problem on the island nowadays (horseshoe whip snakes which had been accidently introduced on the island when lots of olive trees had been imported). they are harmless to us humans, but they fcuk up the ecosystem. anyone that's been on any of my hikes will have heard that our beautiful ibizan wall lizards are endangered because of the snakes (they are the snakes' favourite snack). and believe it or not, yes those snakes are also a problem for the pine trees now. why? well, because the processionary caterpillars are part of the lizards' diet. and since we've got so few lizards now, the caterpillars population grows quickly and turns into a bigger issue for the pine trees than previously. and no, the snakes sadly don't eat the caterpillars.