Hualien's Pine Garden has become a popular tourist spot because of its century old pine trees. However, since 2003, the trees have been hit by natural disasters and diseases. Now, local residents are extremely concerned that it will eventually disappear, with the number of trees currently slashed to half.

The Pine Garden is seeing construction next to this small wooden house.

It is not a new structure but a procedure to clean the roots of an old pine tree.

7 trees, including a tung tree, willow, and No. 22 pine tree have been infected with something called tree cancer or brown root rot.

These workers are uprooting these large tree roots to show how much brown root rot has damaged the tree.

In recent years, Pine Garden has seen its old trees reduced by half.

Brown root disease is transmitted through soil and roots and if not cleaned properly adjacent tree species can be infected. Responsible for the management of the facility, the Hualien County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that the Council for Cultural Affairs spends 200,000 NT$ to take care of pine trees.

However, these funds have run out and if the infection occurs again, they will not be able to pay for it as they seek help from NGOs.

The Department of Cultural Affairs said that next year, in addition to relying upon a Council for Cultural Affairs grant it will also ask the county government for help.

The pine tree population is declining every year, with the public sector actively trying to protect these old pine trees.

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