Sejong Partially Lifts Export Ban on Pine Tree Species Areas

Photo of pine wilt disease infected tree. Source=Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City has lifted the designation of some areas as pine wood export prohibition zones.

On the 8th, the city announced that it would lift the designation of pine wood export prohibition zones in three locations (630.3 hectares) including Sansu-ri, Bugang-myeon, Haengsan-ri, and Galsan-ri.

The lifting of export prohibition zones is possible under the Special Act on the Control of Pine Wilt Disease after infected trees found in the pine wood export prohibition zones have been controlled, and no additional infected trees are found for one year in pine and Japanese black pine forests, and for two years in Korean nut pine forests.

Sansu-ri and other areas were designated as export prohibition zones in December 2017 due to the outbreak of pine wilt disease. However, the city explained that since no additional infected trees have been found after control measures in April of the following year, the export prohibition designation is being lifted.

The city expects that allowing the movement of pine wood in these areas will help revitalize forestry activities.

Kim Dae-hoon, head of the city's Forest and Park Division, said, “Due to surveillance and control projects, some areas within the jurisdiction have been converted into pine wilt disease clean zones,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that the entire Sejong area remains safe from pine wilt disease in the future.”

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