For the third consecutive year, specialists from the State Specialized Forest Protection Enterprise "Kharkivlisozakhyst" have been implementing integrated forest protection methods against trunk pests in the pine forests of the "Svyate" nature reserve in Chernihiv.

According to legends, the lake "Svyate" was the site of the baptism of Chernihiv residents in 989. Located in an ancient forest park, a remnant of the primeval forests that once surrounded the city, it still harbors pine trees up to 250 years old and century-old oaks.

In 2018, at the request of the Chernihiv City Council's Housing and Communal Services Department, a forest pathology survey was conducted in the "Svyate" reserve, revealing the drying out of pine forests due to the mass spread of bark beetles Ips acuminatus and Ips sexdentatus.

Since the detection of bark beetle spread, specialists from "Kharkivlisozakhyst" have implemented a comprehensive biological protection program using predatory insects (Thanasimus formicarius). In addition, root and foliar application of mineral fertilizers has been carried out to enhance tree immunity against pest damage.

As of June 2020, monitoring results showed no new cases of dried-out Scots pine trees, and only a few trees displayed signs of weakening. This indicates a significant reduction in the number of pests, classifying the outbreak as declining. Today, bark beetle outbreaks in the pine forests of the "Svyate" reserve have been nearly eliminated.