In Milyang City, the prevention of pine wood nematode disease has been significantly expanded to 300 hectares through the conversion of tree species.

(Milyang=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-min = On the 8th, the city of Milyang, Gyeongnam Province, announced that it will significantly expand its pine wood nematode disease control project to over 300 hectares in the latter half of this year.

The species conversion control involves removing infected trees and surrounding pine trees (pine, larch, nut pine, and Korean nut pine) and replanting them with different species in areas where pine wood nematode disease has occurred in large numbers.

This is intended to eliminate infected trees and trees at risk of infection to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence and maximize the effect of control.

Last year, the city implemented species conversion control in 69 hectares of areas affected by pine wood nematode disease, achieving increased forest income and budget savings.

This year, the project will be significantly expanded to over 300 hectares, focusing on areas with severe damage and those at risk of spreading, in an effort to make every effort to prevent the spread of pine wood nematode disease.

A city official emphasized, "Although it is difficult to control all of it in a short period of time due to the widespread damage from pine wood nematode disease, we will minimize the control period through the expansion of species conversion control."