The Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its unique earth-stone-wood structure. However, the extensive presence of wood means it faces one of the most common challenges in heritage conservation – insect infestation.

To address the problem, in 2015 the Potala Palace Management Office, working closely with Xizang University, established a dedicated pest control unit. It expanded its cooperation in 2020 with the signing of agreements with the Xizang Institute of Plateau Biology and the School of Life Sciences at Peking University to create a multidisciplinary scientific system for prevention and treatment.

In an earth-stone-wood structure, the wooden components generally suffer insect damage over time. At the Potala Palace, however, infestations have remained limited, thanks to early detection and timely treatment. Through a sustained effort, pest-affected areas throughout the complex have been kept under effective control. Staff also conduct systematic surveys and data analysis of all the infestation points in the wooden structures.

According to Tashi Gyatso from the pest control unit, the team now uses specially developed biological agents instead of traditional chemical pesticides.

"These biological treatments are designed specifically for wood-boring pests and cause almost no harm to natural predators or other harmless insects," he said. "Chemical pesticides would kill both the target pests and beneficial species such as spiders. Our biological agents protect the wooden structures while preserving the palace's internal ecological balance."

As part of the routine conservation work, the team conducts annual inspections of the palace's wooden components. If a pest infestation is detected, a treatment is mixed in the laboratory and applied through a targeted "one spot, one injection" micro-spraying method, minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment.

The office continues to collaborate with leading research institutions through on-site testing, field surveys and specimen analysis. Scientists have already completed genetic testing on the main pest species and are developing precise species identification to create safer and more effective biological solutions that tackle infestations at source.

Looking ahead, the team plans to continue refining its insect classification and customized treatments. Once more detailed species identification is completed, the researchers expect to create even more targeted biological agents, providing stronger long-term protection for the Potala Palace's historic wooden structures and setting a new benchmark for sustainable heritage conservation.