India, Feb. 18 -- A few minutes' walk into the forest near Sontirath village is enough to make one notice the quiet provided by the dense sal (Shorea robusta) tree growth. There is a sudden sense of self-awareness as one starts to notice the faintest of forest sounds. "It will not be this peaceful for long. Come monsoon and the forest will be full of sal borers flying around," says Sukaal. "The pest is in the larva stage right now. The adult insect will emerge from the tree in June-July, with the onset of rains," he adds.

Sukaal is among the 35-odd labourers deployed by the forest department in Madhya Pradesh's Dindori district to identify sal trees that have become infested by the sal heartwood borer (Hoplocerambyx spinicornis) insect i...