On October 8, the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau unveiled an important initiative to combat the Pine Wood Nematode disease plaguing the region. Known as the 2024 No. 3 General Order, this directive from provincial forestry officials underscores a comprehensive strategy for enhancing prevention and control efforts, aiming to create a robust ecological biosecurity framework. The plan sets ambitious targets for achieving high-quality and high-standard goals by 2025.
The management window for this disease runs from August to March of the following year. The General Order calls on forestry leaders at all levels to prioritize both afforestation and forest protection. These prevention strategies must be seamlessly integrated into local forestry management systems and broader ecological development plans to foster a greener Guangdong. Key components of the initiative include rigorous progress monitoring, secure funding, optimization of pine forests, and organized tree harvesting activities. Public involvement is pivotal, with plans for a collaborative defense system that spans various regions and departments. The importance of regular assessments to verify the quality and effectiveness of these prevention measures has been emphasized as part of ongoing oversight.
Additionally, the General Order lays out comprehensive monitoring requirements, including daily surveillance and special inspections during the fall season. Responsibilities for grid-based monitoring will be assigned to specific leaders and their teams, emphasizing detailed tracking by location. The initiative aims to prevent the internal spread of the disease and limit its introduction from outside sources. This will involve stringent inspections and registrations for businesses and individuals dealing in wood, as well as continuous “Protect Pine” quarantine actions against illegal logging and the trafficking of infected wood, while also implementing preventive measures in unaffected areas.
The General Order advocates for a cohesive professional approach to prevention, encouraging collaborative treatment strategies across regions. A key priority is the establishment of integrated management demonstration sites aimed at eradicating the disease at the county and town levels, while also ensuring the protection of ancient and culturally significant pine trees throughout the province.
According to the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau, significant progress has already been made in recent years as part of the ongoing five-year campaign against the Pine Wood Nematode. Current reports indicate that more than 50% of the objectives have been achieved across all 21 municipalities, resulting in a total reduction of 810,000 acres impacted by the disease, the removal of four county-level infection zones, and the elimination of infection points in 44 towns. This marks a successful decline in the disease’s spread, as evidenced by the reduction in both infected areas and the number of affected trees.
