Pine wood nematode blocked at entry — plant quarantine officers at Incheon Airport receive imported timber species identification training
Quarantine officers at Incheon Airport are set to sharpen their ability to detect timber infected with pine wood nematode and other pests, with training covering everything from wood tissue observation to near-infrared identification technology.
The Korea Forestry Promotion Institute, a public institution under the Korea Forest Service, conducted an "imported timber species identification training" session for plant quarantine officers at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency's Incheon Airport regional office on Friday.
The training comes as timber product imports through direct overseas purchases and express cargo have grown, increasing the need to identify wood species at quarantine checkpoints. Pests subject to import bans — such as the pine wood nematode — parasitize specific tree species, making it essential to determine whether incoming timber is coniferous or broadleaf as a first step in quarantine assessment.
The session covered how to use a loupe to examine cross-sections of wood and distinguish between coniferous and broadleaf species. Instructors also explained to what extent species can be identified in processed products such as plywood and fiberboard. Officers practiced identification using actual wood samples.
The institute also demonstrated a near-infrared (NIR) species identification technology at the session. The technique allows inspectors to identify pine species — including Korean red pine, radiata pine and loblolly pine — simply by placing a measuring device against the timber's surface, without cutting samples or preparing separate specimens. It can be used to screen inspection targets at the customs clearance stage.
Jung In-ho, head of the institute's Wood Quality Management Division, said the session allowed staff to confirm what quarantine officers actually need in the field and to assess the potential for applying newly developed technology. "The fact that the two agencies examined timber together in the same room is the starting point of this collaboration," he said. "We will pool our expertise to help protect forest resources."
The institute plans to continue developing the NIR technology to improve identification accuracy and to work with the quarantine agency to explore ways to apply it in the field.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
