[Anchor]

Pine trees withering away from pine wilt disease have nearly doubled nationwide over the past two years. Experts point out that the realistic alternative to saving the remaining pine trees is to boldly give up forests that have already spread beyond control and concentrate prevention capabilities on forests of high conservation value.

Reporter Dong Eunyeong has the story.

[Reporter]

Pine tree logging operations are in full swing on a mountain in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

The trees along the middle of the mountain have turned a reddish hue.

At a glance, it might look like autumn foliage, but these trees are actually withering away after being infected with 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, nearing its peak.

In fact, the number of infected trees nationwide, which stood at 900,000 two years ago, was surveyed to have nearly doubled this year.

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 in Guryongsan and Bukhansan in Gangnam, Seoul.

Climate changes, such as abnormal high temperatures, have largely contributed to extending 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, they hatched around early May, but now it has been pulled forward to around mid-April.]

Leaving infected trees unattended can dry them out severely, threatening human safety.

The possibility of them falling due to strong winds is increasing, and dead trees near roads, in particular, could lead to major accidents.

[Seo Jae-cheol / Senior Researcher, Green Korea United: When a car is speeding on 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 directly threatens road and railway safety.]

Experts point out that infected trees must be removed promptly, and active prevention-centered control policies must be implemented.

[Jung 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, a bold approach of selection and concentration is needed to protect pine forests of high conservation value.

(Video reporting: Kang Si-woo, Hangyul | Video editing: Lee Sang-min | Design: Park Taeyoung)