The Sand Worm is Devouring Lebanon's Forests: How Do We Combat It?

The "Earth" Association - Lebanon, has called for the "rescue of Lebanon’s forests from the sand worm." In a statement, it noted that "this pest is ravaging Lebanese pine forests, consuming pine needles and causing the deterioration of Lebanon's forests." It considered that "the primary reason for this is the absence of the worm’s natural enemies, the most important of which are the cuckoo birds, woodpeckers, the shepherd's looper, the scarlet tanger, the crested lark, the great tit, the blue tit, the great tit and the red-backed shrike." It urged "municipalities and environmental activists to act quickly to manually combat this pest, using stick shears and burning nests, and to employ personal protective measures to safeguard eyes, skin, and breathing from the worm's needles, which can cause severe allergies."