Monitoring of pine wilt disease to be intensified

China will intensify its efforts to monitor and control pine wilt disease this year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Friday.

The administration, at a special meeting on the disease, noted recent progress in monitoring, early warning, rapid detection and drug development to combat the pine wood nematode, which causes the disease. Earlier this month, leading Chinese experts reached the Xiangshan Consensus on future control strategies.

"Research has found that the natural enemy of the pine wood nematode is a fungus, and China's related pesticide and treatment measures are already relatively perfect," said Zhang Xingyao, an expert in pine wood nematode prevention from the Chinese Academy of Forestry.

"Scientists first use remote sensing, drones and other technologies to infer the epidemic area based on changes in tree color, and then local staff use a testing kit to accurately determine which trees are infected," he said.

The pine wood nematode, a parasite carried by Monochamus, a genus of longhorn beetles, can be spread as the beetles fly. Infected pine trees can wither and die within about a month if untreated.

The disease, first detected in China in 1982, has caused significant damage to the country's forest ecosystems. It is considered one of the most destructive threats to global forests, known for its rapid spread and high mortality rate. Asia has been the hardest-hit region, according to the administration.

"If a pine tree is infected, the symptoms are similar to those of a drought-stricken tree. If anyone notices this, they should promptly report it to the forestry department," Zhang said.

At Friday's meeting, experts discussed this year's disease trends and how to apply existing scientific and technological achievements to prevention and control. They also decided to establish a platform for monitoring prevention and control efforts.

Since 2020, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has implemented a national five-year action plan (2021-25) for disease prevention and control, achieving its overall control target ahead of schedule. Over the past four years, China has reduced the affected area and the number of dead trees, the administration said.

Despite these gains, the area affected by the disease remains large. Experts believe continued efforts are needed in monitoring and management to mitigate the risk of local resurgences.

This year's efforts will emphasize the primary responsibility of local governments, using the "forest chief" system and adopting tailored solutions based on local conditions, experts said.

In high-risk areas, prevention and control measures will be strengthened, technologies such as satellite remote sensing will be used for monitoring and efforts will be made to prevent further spread.

The pine wood nematode can survive at any latitude in China, so preventing its spread is crucial, Zhang said. "The current focus of prevention is to prevent the circulation from epidemic areas," he said.