The forest is under the management of the Hong Linh Forest Protection Management Board in Hong Linh Town.
According to the board, there are around 10-50 pine caterpillars on each pine tree. Some trees have up to 300 caterpillars: Photo by Van Nguyen
In some areas of the forest, this kind of insect has destroyed the leaves of pine trees.
The recent high humidity following rainy spells has been blamed for the massive caterpillar outbreak.
The Hong Linh Forest Protection Management Board has sprayed pesticides in the forest with a focus on the hardest-hit areas.
Nguyen Phi Quynh, head of the board, said that the outbreak of pine caterpillars has harmed the productivity and resin yield of pine trees. Many trees have also died from the outbreak.
The caterpillar outbreak is forecasted to continue for the foreseeable future. The board will continue spraying pesticides. However, they face difficulties due to steep, mountainous terrain.
"We’ve informed the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other concerned agencies of the problem and would like to provide more supplies of pesticide,” Quynh noted.
