A patented insecticidal tarpaulin that stops bark beetle spread directly at the log pile. Field-tested. The only commercially ready alternative after the EU ban on StoraNet.
The Opportunity
Bark beetle outbreaks force forest owners to sell infested timber immediately — flooding the market and crashing prices. The greatest economic loss happens not in the forest, but at the log pile, where harvested wood sits unprotected.
Broad-acre aerial spraying is environmentally problematic and increasingly restricted by EU regulation. Existing point-of-storage solutions offer low effectiveness.
An insecticidal protective tarpaulin — impregnated with a permitted active substance — that covers the log pile and stops bark beetle from escaping into surrounding forest. Applied directly at the point of highest loss.
Simple to deploy, reusable, low cost. The technology was field-tested for 9 months in real operational conditions in cooperation with Lesy ČR (Czech State Forests).
Why Now
The 2018–2021 calamity temporarily exhausted the most vulnerable spruce monocultures. But the structural drivers remain — and science predicts a new high-risk window in the 2030s. The current relative calm is the right moment to introduce preventive technology at scale.
Sources: Grünig et al. (2026), Science — TU München; Landscape Ecology (2025); Scientific Reports (2025). Scenario analysis: Mediva Ventures, March 2026.
Where BarkShield Fits
BarkShield is not a drought solution and not a substitute for species diversification, water retention or natural regeneration. It is an operational bridge that buys forest owners time and capital — by acting at exactly one point in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Prolonged drought weakens tree defence mechanisms across the country.
Trees lose the ability to flood beetle entry points with resin.
Infestation accelerates in already-stressed stands.
Harvested logs become active breeding grounds awaiting transport.
Sanitation barrier stops beetle emergence and re-infestation directly at the depot.
Owners avoid distress sales; savings fund diversification and water retention.
Why This Matters Now
Updated as the situation develops — cross-referenced with our LinkedIn updates.
A Czech public broadcaster report documents drought losses running into the tens of percent among newly planted saplings, with mature beeches shedding leaves roughly two and a half months early. Weakened trees lose their natural defence against bark beetle attack.
Read the source →A Science study led by TU Munich projects bark beetle, storm and wildfire disturbances across Europe will substantially increase, with Central and Southern Europe most exposed.
The Czech state compensated forest owners for calamity-timber price losses over this period — a cost directly linked to distress sales during bark beetle outbreaks.
From LinkedIn
Notes on forest resilience, bark beetle risk, evidence and the economics of timber protection from Jan Mareš.
In the Field
Field test conducted October 2019 – June 2020 in cooperation with Lesy ČR (Czech State Forests). 103 m³ log pile, two tarpaulins of 100 m² each. Zero mechanical failure over the full test period.
Independent project record
The field-validation project is publicly documented by Lesy České republiky, s.p. The official project record includes the project description and access to the final report.
Read the official Lesy ČR project record and download the final report →
June 2020 — After 9 months in field conditions. Tarpaulin intact, no mechanical damage.
October 2019 — Installation. Two people, 30 minutes.
October 2019 — Surface detail. Heavy leaf and branch load — no tearing.
Derisking Without External Capital
Most seed-stage companies present a plan. Mediva Ventures presents a completed record.
| Milestone | Standard Seed Company | Mediva Ventures |
|---|---|---|
| Patent | In progress / filed | Granted — CZ 310412 B6 (2025) |
| Technology testing | Laboratory / simulations | 9 months real-world field testing Independent biological efficacy testing by VÚLHM (Forest Research Institute). Mechanical integrity confirmed after 9 months in field conditions. Active substance non-leaching — verified by independent laboratory analysis (ALS Czech Republic). |
| Production costs | Estimated | Production cost validated |
| Competition | Intense price pressure | Only competitor banned by EU (2022) |
| Anchor customer | Still searching | Identified |
Carbon Impact
Bark beetle kills trees and turns forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. Mediva's solution interrupts that cycle — measurably.
Calculated for Norway spruce per IPCC methodology. Forest absorption rate: EEA 2025.
Market Potential
Revenue potential is derived directly from the area of state and church forests in CZ and CEE — not from an estimated market share in an unknown segment.
Scalable to DE, AT, PL, SK, SE — countries still facing active bark beetle pressure under climate change.
Team
Founder & CEO
Research Partners
Recognitions & Programs
Mediva Ventures is part of the Solar Impulse Foundation ecosystem, which selects and promotes solutions that protect the environment in a profitable way. Being featured in this network signals that BarkShield is aligned with global efficiency and climate-impact standards and has passed an external technical and business-model assessment.
BarkShield has received positive evaluation from the Forest Bioeconomy Investment Accelerator – a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank Group (EIBG) and the European Forest Institute (EFI) Bioregions Facility that supports high-impact forest bioeconomy projects on their investment journey. FBIA focuses on innovative, scalable solutions that strengthen forest resilience, mobilise private capital and deliver measurable climate and biodiversity benefits; Mediva’s technology is recognised within this context as a credible candidate for forest-sector investment.
Get in Touch
We are actively seeking a seed investor aligned with climate-tech, natural capital, or forestry. All enquiries welcome.
jan.mares@mediva.ventures