A TEAM of forest pathologists and experts Tuesday started to determine measures to control a certain pest infestation of matured Benguet pine trees within the Camp John Hay (CJH) forest reservation where 68 trees are now visibly dead or dying.
John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) forester Alberto Banatao said the forest pathologists from the Benguet State University (BSU) came to rescue the hundreds of still healthy pine trees when JHMC chief executive officer Jaime Agbayani commissioned the BSU to team up with JHMC to stop the pest infestation.
Records show it was in the middle of the 1970's when the same infestation was noted here and in Benguet Province by a sturdy elongated brown insect known scientifically as "ips calligraphus."
When former Bureau of Forest Development (BFD) Victoriano Soriano showed to the media the particular insect, it resembled the features of a praying mantis but its color varies from brown to gray or greenish brown which resemble the color of the bark of a pine tree.
The insect has strong claws that it can create a bruise to the bark of the pine tree, until the cut would ooze with the reddish pine sap which in technical terms is known as "bleeding."
Soriano explained the Benguet pine tree is very delicate that the “bleeding” would cause its death is some months.
The "bleeding" of pine trees in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) became also an issue in the middle of 1980's when some groups collected the pine tree sap as raw material in the production of oil paint as the sap is also known as "oleo resin."
The process was banned totally after it was determined to be destructive to the Benguet pine stands.
Soriano said then the BFD had not only found certain pesticide to control the "ips calligraphus", but also drew support from the community to go against collectors of "oleoresin" and pine tree poachers.
The "ips calligraphus" is very prolific during summer that no less that the CJHMC raised the alarm of the need to contain the insect which feed on the pine tree sap until the tree wilt and eventually die.
According to Banatao, the remaining pine stands at CJH are very essential to the ambiance of the world-class tourism facility as they make the golf area known worldwide as very pleasing to the foreigners and local players.
Besides, the CJH pine stands are among the last watershed areas in the city which store the needed potable water as they maintain the good water level in at least two pumping stations of the Baguio Water District (BWD).
He said that the operations against the "ips calligraphus" will be made transparent as ordered by the corporate board as the issue is imbued with national interest. (Aure Galacgac)