New Zealand researchers are using drones and satellites to protect eucalyptus forests from costly pest damage.
New Zealand researchers are pioneering drone and satellite technology to protect the country's expanding eucalyptus plantations from damaging pests.
A team at the University of Canterbury (UC) is using remote sensing tools to monitor over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, introduced as a sustainable and chemical-free alternative to treated pine. These trees face a growing threat from leaf-chewing paropsine beetles, which can cause significant canopy damage.
UC PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar, who led the study, said the project uses drone-mounted sensors and satellite imagery to detect early signs of pest infestation and tree stress. This allows land managers to respond quickly, even in remote areas, and reduces reliance on costly ground inspections.
According to UC Associate Professor Steve Pawson, pest-related losses cost the industry up to 10 million NZ dollars annually, with control measures adding another 2.6 million NZ dollars each year.
The research supports New Zealand’s goal to expand eucalyptus plantations to 100,000 hectares by 2050. Pariyar said the technology could offer a scalable model for global sustainable forestry.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has moved to advance reforms of the Armenian Apostolic Church, signing a controversial roadmap with ten senior...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of January, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Taiwan has reported an unprecedented surge in cyberattacks originating from China, with an average of 2.63 million incidents a day recorded throughout...
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed the political significance of recent private meetings between Vladimir Putin and former K...
President Ilham Aliyev has held talks in Baku with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress, focusing on regional peace efforts, expanding bilat...
The possibility of restricting social media access for children is a hot topic in the European Union and the United Kingdom, after Australia implemented a world-first ban for those under 16. Lawmakers have labelled the ban a “real-world test” of how far governments can go to protect young people.
New Zealand announced on Thursday that it would broaden sanctions against Russia’s oil sector and its so-called shadow fleet, during a meeting with the foreign ministers of the five Nordic countries in Stockholm.
More than 100,000 New Zealand teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters and support staff went on strike Thursday, demanding higher pay and better funding for public services, a clear sign of dissatisfaction with centre-right government.
New Zealand's annual inflation accelerated in the third quarter, reaching 3.0%, which aligns with analysts' expectations and is at the upper end of the central bank's target range, according to official data released on Monday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war is now threatening trade in the Black Sea.
Teenagers as young as 14 and 15 years old were among those who died in the bar fire on New Year's Eve that killed 40 people in Switzerland, police said on Sunday.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korea and Japan, as regional diplomacy and security concerns remain in focus.
The United States launched an overnight military operation in Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said, pledging to place the country under temporary American control and signalling that U.S. forces could be deployed if necessary.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has moved to advance reforms of the Armenian Apostolic Church, signing a controversial roadmap with ten senior bishops that could pave the way for the departure of the current church leader.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed the political significance of recent private meetings between Vladimir Putin and former Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, describing them as purely personal exchanges.
President Ilham Aliyev has held talks in Baku with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress, focusing on regional peace efforts, expanding bilateral ties and new transport corridors.
Azerbaijan and Türkiye have signed an agreement covering the supply of 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war is now threatening trade in the Black Sea.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment