This year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forestry Department and the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture signed a cooperation protocol in order to carry out an integrated struggle with the pine insects, which cause great damage to pine trees and forest areas with their increasing density.

Salih Güneş, Director of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Founding Dean of the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Özge Özden visited Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Mayor Fırat Ataser in his office and expanded the cooperation established against pine beetles. After the meeting, Mayor Fırat Ataser stated that Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality would support the “wire cage application” in the fight against pine processionary beetles.

Integrated fight is a must!
Many methods need to be applied in an integrated way in order the fight against pine beetles, which cause great damage to forest areas. Biological control with trapping, predatory insect release and wire cage method, increasing bird nests and application of biological insecticide (spraying) are the leading methods in this struggle. Under the scientific consultancy of the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture, Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality will support the wire cage application, which is one of the integrated fight methods carried out by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The municipality, which has undertaken the construction of the cages, will place the prepared cages in the Lapta, Alsancak, Geçitkōy, Çamlıbel and Mediterranean forests, in the regions recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forestry Department and the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture.

The wire cages to be placed will serve as a sheltered nest for beneficial insects that infect pine purse caterpillars and prevent their development. It is known that there are more than one species of parasitoid insects (some beneficial insects from the order Diptera and Hymenoptera) against pine insects. These insects will be reproduced using the wire cage method and will provide the opportunity to fight without harming the ecological balance.

Cooperation of other municipalities is also important;
Reminding that Lapta and its surroundings are one of the most important forest areas of Northern Cyprus, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forestry Department Director Salih Güneş thanked Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Mayor Fırat Ataser for his sensitivity and support in the fight against the pine insects. Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Founding Dean Prof. Dr. Özge Özden, on the other hand, reminded that the pine processionary insect will cause great damage to the forests, which are the natural assets of the country, and thanked Fırat Ataser for her support. Prof. Dr. Özden said, “The pine insect needs to be dealt with in an integrated manner. Biological control, mechanical warfare and biological insecticide application stand out as the most effective methods. The important thing is to produce a sustainable solution by preserving the natural balance. At this point, it is extremely important that many institutions cooperate. After the protocol we signed with the Forestry Department, we were happy that Taşkent Nature Park also supported the biological struggle against pine insects. The support of Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality is also very important at this point. Local governments stated that it is very important for us and that it is necessary to increase cooperation with our municipalities on this issue.”