1,500,000 Acres Of Forest Destroyed By Bark Beetle

The bark beetle is an insect that's only as big as a grain of rice, yet it aggressively attacks pine woods in the USA and Canada, destroying over 1,500,000 acres (6,070 km²) of forest every year. The most affected zone is Rocky Mountain National Park in USA, a protected area of spectacular mountain and forest environments.

The park offers 578 km (359 mi) of trails, 150 lakes and a huge diversity of wildflowers and wildlife. The views are awe-inspiring, but in recent years, it's been relentlessly attacked by the bark beetle which has destroyed most of the lodgepole pine trees over five inches in diameter.

In spite of this, a visit to the Rocky Mountains is a must for those looking for:

• a scenic drive over the famous Trail Ridge Road
• hiking and backpacking
• horseback riding
• rock climbing and mountaineering
• cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
• fishing
• camping