Pines Wither Away Looking Like Fall Foliage

[Anchor]

The number of pine trees dying from pine wilt disease nationwide has nearly doubled over the past two years. Experts advise that forests already heavily infected should be decisively abandoned, and greater efforts should instead be focused on preventing the disease in pine forests of high conservation value.

Reporter Dong Eunyeong has the story.

[Reporter]

Pine tree logging work is underway on a mountain in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

The trees along the mid-slope of the mountain have turned a reddish color.

At first glance, it looks like autumn foliage, but these trees are actually dying from pine wilt disease.

Experts believe that the pine nematode, which entered the Yeongnam region from Japan in the late 1980s, is currently experiencing its third major outbreak, and one that is nearing its peak.

In fact, surveys show that infected trees, which stood at 900,000 nationwide two years ago, have surged nearly twofold.

While damage remains concentrated in the Yeongnam region, the disease is spreading to various parts of the country, with infected trees having been discovered earlier this year on Guryongsan mountain in Gangnam, Seoul, and Bukhansan mountain.

Climate changes, such as abnormally high temperatures, have significantly extended the active period of the vector insects.

[Jang Woo-sung / Forest Protection Team Leader, Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province: The timing for vector insects to hatch and emerge continues to get earlier as temperatures rise. Previously, hatching occurred around early May, but now it has been pulled forward to mid-April.]

If infected trees are left unattended, they become completely dried out and can threaten human safety.

The likelihood of them falling due to strong winds increases, and dead trees near roadsides, in particular, could lead to major accidents.

[Seo Jae-cheol / Senior Specialist, Green Korea United: When a car is speeding down a highway, even a falling golf ball is dangerous. Imagine a tree about 10 meters tall and 20 to 30 centimeters in diameter flying toward you. It would directly threaten the safety of roads and railways.]

Experts point out that infected trees must be removed promptly and prevention-focused control policies should be actively implemented.

[Chung Jong-guk / Professor, Department of Forest Environmental Protection, Kangwon National University: It is already too late. Because the damage is severe, we need a form of tree species conversion where pine trees are removed from those areas and replaced with other trees that are not susceptible to pine wilt disease.]

Experts advise that with limited budgets and manpower, it is time for bold choices and concentration to protect pine forests of high conservation value.

(Video Journalist: Kang Si-woo, Hangyul | Video Editor: Lee Sang-min | Designer: Park Taeyoung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.