Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Global effort needed to protect New Zealand's trees and forests
Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.
From Forest Health News 259, August 2015.
Principal Scientist and entomologist, Ecki Brockerhoff co-authored a paper in the prestigious journal “Science” that discusses the need for a strategy to keep planted forests healthy. The most important conclusion was that biosecurity is only as strong as the weakest link. Many countries don’t have the resources to carry out biosecurity measures and responses, and that increases the risk of pest establishment and further spread. Once a pest or pathogen establishes somewhere, that region or country can then act as a bridgehead for invasions to other regions. New Zealand has some of the best biosecurity practices in the world, but single country strategies may not be sufficient as the threats to both planted and indigenous forests increase with increasing globalisation and international trade. The authors suggest that one answer is to enhance global collaboration to share local knowledge and biosecurity expertise. There is a need for more coordination and d edicated funding mechanisms to support a global strategy for dealing with invasive forest pests and pathogens.
Wingfield, M.J., Brockerhoff, E.G., Wingfield, B.D. & Slippers, B. (2015). Planted forest health: The need for a global strategy. Science, 21 August 2015, 349 6250, pp. 832-836. DOI:10.1126/science.aac6674
Or http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6250/832.full
Lindsay Bulman
This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)
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