An international scientific team is shipping 1,000 Douglas fir seeds to China in an attempt to discover what pests are attracted to the species.
The project is ultimately aimed at safeguarding the Pacific Northwest’s huge Douglas fir tree forests against a potential bug or fungus invasion from Asia. The American sweet chestnut and elm were wiped out early in the 20th century by fungi from east Asia.
The seeds will be planted in groupings of 100 across Shandong Province, which has a similar climate to the Pacific Northwest. The trees will be regularly examined for any sign of disease or pests afflicting them.
About 70% of trees harvested in Oregon and Washington, equivalent to 26.6 million m3, are Douglas fir, a species commonly used for Christmas trees. In 2001, the states’ Christmas tree crop had a combined value of more than US$208m.
