Consensus reached to tackle pine wilt disease

Leading pine wilt disease experts from 19 research institutes and universities in China have reached the Xiangshan Consensus on the future development of the field in the next five to 10 years, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Wednesday.

Pine wilt disease is one of the most destructive threats to global forest ecosystems due to its rapid spread and high mortality rate among affected trees. Asia has been the hardest-hit region, according to the administration.

First detected in China in 1982, the disease has caused significant damage to the country's forest ecosystems. The pine wilt nematode, which causes the disease, has a strong ability to adapt to environmental changes, allowing it to spread regardless of temperature. This poses a long-term invasion risk to China's 60 million hectares of pine forests, the administration said.