ISLAMABAD, June 25: Hundreds of trees in the capital’s green belts are falling due to termites attack and the authorities find themselves at a loss to tackle the problem. “The termite attack is a major problem and various options are being considered to tackle it,” an official in the environment ministry said when asked how and why the trees were dropping lifeless.

The termite-hit trees are usually seen in the green belts with their roots exposed and the barks teared.

“Insecticide spray has been done in some areas but due to hazardous effects on the adjoining trees it is not done on a large-scale,” the official said.

The CDA’s director environment for urban areas, Dr Sheikh Suleman, said the termite attack was witnessed in trees all over Islamabad due to drought-like conditions.

He said the insecticide spray, Tinakill, was done in sector F-6 where the problem was more noticeable. “The spray in other areas has not been done as rains have started and the problem is expected to subside,” he said, adding “termites proliferate in dry conditions.”

Replying to a question as to what kind of trees were the worst affected, Dr Suleman said termite attack was noticed mostly in Sheesham trees. The other varieties, acacia trees (Kikar and margosia trees (Neem), are less susceptible to the attack, he said.

Research shows there are several approaches to control termites, however none of the efforts is suitable enough to eradicate the established termite colonies in a plantation. Certain problems related to the development of chemical and biological control strategies exist and have yet to be solved.

Termites live well hidden in the wood of a tree or in the soil and their galleries are perfectly sealed off making it difficult for an insecticide or a bio-control agent to reach their colony.

The officials said termites normally did not attack green trees but it was being witnessed in Islamabad.

Replying to questions about the causative factors, officials in the environment ministry and the CDA maintained that drought-like conditions and a long dry spell were the major cause of termite attack.

However, sources said, the research had pointed out man made factors, including fires, as one of the causative factors which weakened the trees and rendered them susceptible to termites.

It has been observed that CDA staff usually sets the bushes and leaves accumulated in the green belts on fire.

A CDA official said the gardeners of the environment directorate did not set the dried leaves and bushes on fire but it was the staff of sanitation directorate which resorted to such measures.

The research shows that fires put the trees under stress and weaken their natural resistance against pests. “A number of insect pests attacking fire-damaged trees would not be able to cause any harm if the tree was not affected by fire.”

According to the environmental experts and research, another main contributing factor encouraging termite attack on green trees are poor silvicultural operations.

Besides, fire, cattle and other pests decrease the natural resistance of the trees, encouraging termite attack.

Identifying improper maintenance of green belts by the CDA as one of the causes, the sources said the accumulated waste wood, like stumps, tree tops or branches on and in the soil, offers food for termites. The green belts are seldom cleaned on the basis of scientific studies which recommend proper treatment for individual species of plants.

Moreover, an expert said, damaged bark of the residual trees, caused during tending, thinning and pruning invites termites.

Another man made development contributing to death of trees is the decision by the authorities to lessen the tree cover in the green belts in view of security considerations.

“Last year in September, a decision was taken at the highest level to decrease the thick tree cover to increase visibility for the police in the green belts,” an official said.