Itoshima City announced it will resume aerial spraying of the government-owned forest in Shima. Itoshima’s pines have suffered serious damage from pine wilt, a disease caused by the pine wood nematode (a worm carried by the pine sawyer), but spraying was suspended in Nijo in 2009 and Shima in 2010 due to citizen protests. Spraying will be limited to 14 hectares of the forest along Niginohama Beach in Shimakeya and will be conducted by the Fukuoka District Forest Office of the Forestry Agency. The spray zone is located at least 200 meters away from houses and will cover about half of seaside forest. Spraying by helicopter is scheduled for May 15 and June 5 between 5 and 6 a.m. and traffic on nearby roads will be restricted during those times. The national and city governments will hold an information session on the pesticides before the spraying. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 1
