All of Gapyeong County Designated a Special Control Zone for Pine Wilt Disease... Year-Round Control to Begin

Gapyeong County Designates 84,366 ha for Pine Wilt Control
Simplifies Control Procedures
To Establish Regional Control Strategy by Year-End

The entire area of Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, has been designated a special control zone for pine wilt disease. With restrictions on the control period lifted and some work procedures simplified, the disposal of dead trees affected by the disease is expected to accelerate.

Seo Taewon, mayor of Gapyeong County (fourth from right), and Korea Forest Service Chief Park Eunsik (right), among others, visited a site for a pine wilt disease control project involving the conversion of tree species in Gapyeong on the 23rd to inspect the project's progress. Photo provided by Gapyeong County.

Gapyeong County said that, effective October 29, the entire county, covering 84,366 ha, has been designated a special control zone for pine wilt disease. Of that area, 68,332 ha is forestland. The designation will remain in effect from October 29 until its cancellation is officially announced.

The designation was made in response to the spread of pine wilt disease and the need for urgent, intensive monitoring and control measures.

The special control zone allows year-round control work without the restrictions imposed under the previous control period. Some control procedures, including the collection and chipping of small branches, will also be simplified. The county plans to use these measures to swiftly dispose of dead trees affected by the disease and respond nimbly to damage in areas where residents live and spend time, such as residential neighborhoods and roadsides.

The county will step up monitoring in affected areas and carry out measures such as removing and chipping dead trees and replacing tree species, depending on the severity of the damage and conditions at each site. It will also strengthen cooperation with the Korea Forest Service, Gyeonggi Province, and neighboring cities and counties to prevent further spread.

The county will also establish a regional pine wilt disease control strategy by the end of 2026. It plans to lay the groundwork for a systematic response by developing measures to secure control teams, personnel, and funding, and by improving relevant systems.

A Gapyeong County official said, "The designation of the special control zone has created the conditions for us to respond more quickly and effectively to damage caused by pine wilt disease. We will minimize its spread through enhanced monitoring and intensive control measures, and protect the safety of residents and forest resources."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.