“Pine Wilt Disease Detected in Gyeryong City”... South Chungcheong Province Launches Emergency Control Effort with the Korea Forest Service

[Financial News, Hongseong = Reporter Kim Won-jun] Pine wilt disease has been detected in Gyeryong City, South Chungcheong Province, prompting the province to launch an emergency response with the Korea Forest Service and other relevant agencies.
 South Chungcheong Province said on the 11th that, after eight trees infected with pine wilt disease were confirmed on the 10th in the Dumamyeon area of Gyeryong City, it would conduct detailed surveillance around the outbreak site and implement emergency control measures. The province has promptly notified relevant agencies of the new outbreak and is closely investigating whether there are additional infections near the site and the possibility of further spread.
 In particular, an emergency central control meeting led by the Korea Forest Service will be held on the 12th, with relevant agencies including South Chungcheong Province, Gyeryong City, neighboring cities and counties, and the National Institute of Forest Science in attendance. The meeting is set to focus on epidemiological investigations to identify the cause of infection and its route of entry, setting the scope of detailed surveillance around the outbreak site, and coordinating emergency control measures.
 Based on the meeting's conclusions and the results of field investigations, South Chungcheong Province will carry out emergency control operations suited to local conditions, including the immediate removal of infected trees and preventive tree injections. It will also take administrative measures, such as designating the area around the outbreak site as a restricted transport zone, to prevent the spread of the disease through the human movement of infected trees, and plans to strengthen surveillance and movement controls in neighboring areas.
 The outbreak of pine wilt disease in Gyeryong City is threatening forests in the upper reaches of the Geum River, which had until now remained relatively free of the disease. Gyeryong City is also adjacent to Gyeryongsan National Park, where stands of red pine (yuksong) are well preserved. Concerns are growing that, if the disease breaches the control network, it could spread in a domino effect to neighboring cities and counties, including Daejeon, Gongju and Nonsan, and even infect the Baekdudaegan ecological corridor. Accordingly, forestry authorities established a joint monitoring network with neighboring local governments, including Yuseong District in Daejeon, immediately after the outbreak.
 South Chungcheong Province plans to strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies in coordination with the governor-led Regional Pine Wilt Disease Control Headquarters, which began expanded operations on the 9th, and to continuously monitor control efforts in the newly affected area.
 A South Chungcheong Province official said, “We will work closely with the Korea Forest Service, Gyeryong City, neighboring local governments and other relevant agencies, and do everything we can to prevent further damage from spreading to surrounding areas.”
 Meanwhile, South Chungcheong Province urged residents to promptly report suspected symptoms of pine wilt disease, such as the rapid death of pine trees, to the forestry department of the relevant city or county. It also asked residents not to move trees suspected of infection without authorization, for example to use them as rafts or firewood.
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter