Boxwood allure was monitored at Nakerala Pass
The National Forestry Agency, within the framework of the "National Action Plan for the Survival of the Colchis Boxwood", has been implementing measures against the invasive pest Alura (Cydalima perspectalis) on the territory of the State Forest Fund since 2016. These measures included biological treatment of damaged groves of Colchis boxwood (in three regions of Georgia: a total of 550 hectares were poisoned in the territory of Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, and Racha-Lechkhumi Kvemo Svaneti,), the use of pheromone pesticides and others.
On February 20, 2018, within the framework of the National Forest Program (NFP) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, a meeting of the first working group - "Forest Restoration and Protection" was held, during which it was decided to suspend biological poisoning. Despite a number of positive results, under the influence of many environmental factors (including climate), the desired result could not be obtained in a short period of time by biological means. Accordingly, it was decided by experts in the field, scientific circles, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations to focus on conservation activities, to allocate sample areas, and to treat them with chemical insecticides.
A grove of a natural origin of Colchis boxwood on Nakerala Pass was selected as a sample area, which was treated 3 times in 2019 by a chemical insecticide. A total of 12 hectares will be cultivated with this insecticide. As a result, at the end of the year, the pest was no longer observed in the boxwood grove, which is why the poisoning was considered highly effective.
In 2020, the Agency planned to continue the chemical insecticide treatment in case of pest detection, however, based on the conducted field studies, it was found that the number of boxwood Allura is minimized and does not require insecticide treatment at this stage. Active growth of new shoots and leaves was observed on boxwood trees and shrubs. Accordingly, this year, the Agency placed only pheromone traps in boxwood groves to monitor the pest. Based on the data received from the mentioned traps, the relevant activity will be planned and implemented in the future.
