Kunsan Air Base works with local community to fight tree infection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The 8th Fighter Wing along with the City of Gunsan has a common interest when it comes to the environment. 

Recently the two agencies worked together when an outbreak of pine blight was found in trees on the base. 

"This problem was first identified by the local community and passed to us." Said Maj. Sara Deaver, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron. 

The 8th CES worked with the Gunsan City forestry service from the beginning of the project to ensure that Korean environmental laws were being followed. 

"Coordination with Gunsan City is critical to ensure the population is aware of the issue and the reasons for conducting the burn" said Major Deaver. 

According to Staff Sgt. Michael Howe, a construction inspector with the 8th CES, Pine blight has spread quickly in Korea in the four years since it was discovered on the peninsula. The disease causes pine trees to wither and die. Without the proper treatment the disease will continue to spread across the peninsula destroying all of the pine trees in its path. 

"Typically 85 percent of the disease is eliminated in the first attempt to destroy it," he said. "After one year the site is re-evaluated to determine if more cutting and burning needs to be performed." 

Pine blight is a combination of cenengium die-back and black pine bast scale. Cenengium die-back is a fungus that lives on pine trees during drought conditions and black pine bast scale is an insect that feeds on the sap produced by pine trees--drying them out as though in a drought and allowing the cenengium die-back to thrive. 

"The pine blight disease is a Korea wide problem" said Chunhui Yu, 8th CES chief of natural assets management, "It doesn't matter on base, off base if diseased infected trees are found the same proper procedures to protect the ones that are still alive should be taken" 

Cenengium die-back and black pine bast scale are treated by cutting down trees or branches and then burning them. Originally the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron attempted to treat the trees by heating them to 133 Fahrenheit. Other than burning, this is the only other known method to treat an infestation of pine blight. 

"Unfortunately, heating a large volume of branches to 56C is very difficult without igniting them." Said Major Deaver. "After several attempts, we realized that this method of curing the disease was futile." 

The diseased branches were successfully burned by a local contractor Aug. 30. Representatives from the 8th CES were on site to oversee the procedure while members of the fire protection flight stood ready to assist if needed. 

"We consider ourselves to be good neighbors to Gunsan City," said Major Deaver. "We hope that good communication will continue to foster this neighborly relationship."