Ganghwa County Addresses Forest Pest Control Blind Spots Through Drone Surveillance

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Ganghwa County announced on the 1st that it is preventing the spread of forest pests through ground-based pest control and drone surveillance.

Invasive pests occurring nationwide, such as the spotted lanternfly, Asian gypsy moth, and Japanese oak leafroller, feed on leaves and sap, causing trees to wither and die, while also triggering sooty mold that causes significant damage to agricultural and forestry areas as well as residential zones.

In response, the county has already hired 51 personnel as pest surveillance units and ground control units since May to conduct proactive surveillance and control activities. Since June, the county has established AI surveillance drone stations capable of real-time monitoring in areas where manual surveillance is difficult, conducting dense surveillance activities.

Additionally, the county is promoting joint pest control efforts with the Agricultural Technology Center for pests damaging forests and farmland, and plans to operate the "Forest Pest Surveillance and Control Task Force" through August to immediately address pest-related complaints in residential areas near forests and other locations, making every effort to resolve residents' inconveniences.

A county official stated, "As forest pest damage is a concern due to high temperatures and monsoon rains, we will do our best to maintain a healthy forest environment and minimize inconvenience to residents through active surveillance and timely pest control measures."