Pest threatens to wipe out Benguet forest pines

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan bared pest infestation threatens to wipe out hundreds of hectares of pine tree forests in the Ambuclao watershed areas in Bokod and Kabayan towns.

Fongwan urged the Cordillera Administrative Region office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate the widespread devastation caused by the pest across the towns of Kabayan, Bokod, and Itogon.

He said the rate at which the pest is killing pine trees is alarming, adding hat most affected are mountains which serve as main source of water for the Agno River.

The governor warned if watersheds are not protected against the pest, massive soil erosion and landslides are inevitable.

Initial investigation done by foresters identified the pest as ips caligraphus which has also threatened hundreds of pine trees in Baguio City and Mountain Province.

Moreover, the mountains of Bokod, Kabayan and Itogon have been full of mature trees the past years but they have already wilted and died after they were attacked by the dreaded pest.

Earlier, municipal officials of the three towns have called the attention of the provincial government regarding the massive infestation, citing that the pest have reportedly tacked second growth you and old pine trees.

One of the recommended remedial measures is for the DENR and local governments to conduct of a sanitized cutting of dead trees and more intensive pest containment efforts.

Initially, Fongwan and the provincial environment and natural resources office signed a joint order that created a composite team to assess the damage caused by the pest infestation and recommend stringent measures to prevent the pest from damaging more pine trees.

Based on a 1985 study conducted by the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Services, the pest was first observed to have infested pine trees in Baguio City and spread to nearby towns in Benguet.

Furthermore, it is considered by experts as one of the major pests affecting pine stands in Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Vizcaya- Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Mountain Province and Kalinga.

The study emphasized the occurrence of forest fires, which is prevalent in the region during summer, influence the behavior and growth of the dreaded insect.