Japan asks for US$43 million to weed out cherry tree-devouring longhorn beetle

Japan’s Environment Ministry has requested 6.7 billion yen, equivalent to approximately US$43 million, in the next financial year’s initial budget to combat invasive longhorn beetles that are consuming cherry trees.

The funding initiative represents an escalation of measures by Japanese authorities to address the ecological threat posed by the beetle species to the country's prominent cherry tree population.