Throughout the world, there is a need to manage pests in both semi-natural and plantation forests. The sustainable management and control of forest pests depends on the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes. A central theme of this book is an examination of the ecological context of the major components of IPM and how and when to apply them in the management of forest pests. The book focuses predominantly on insect pests, but many examples relate to fungal pathogens, some of which are vectored by forest insects. While most examples are from temperate regions, the critical analysis of IPM is relevant to forests world-wide. The book is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students of applied entomology and ecology, forestry, agro-forestry, conservation biology and environmental sciences. It will also be of value to managers of IPM programmes in agriculture as well as forestry.This book is about the management of forest pests. It focuses predominantly on insect pests, but many examples relate to fungal pathogens, some of which are vectored by forest insects. The central theme of the book is the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the main impetus for which comes from the need to use environmentally sensitive methods of control appropriate to both semi-natural and plantation forests.
Such forests are likely to be managed not only for timber production but also for recreation and to enhance biodiversity. An introductory chapter describes how forests have been transformed by exploitation and management and how altering the composition and distribution of forests can contribute to pest problems. Subsequent chapters focus on the `techniques` of management and control that contribute to IPM, considering in turn plant health, risk-rating, silviculture, tree resistance, biological control, microbial control and semiochemicals. By focussing on these important elements of management, the aim is to provide a critical analysis of the theory and practice of each one in relation to key aspects of both pest and forest ecology. The final chapter on IPM brings together elements of the previous chapters, discussing them in the context of the economic and environmental impact of pests, the economics of control, and the role of decision support systems. Detailed case studies are provided and future developments in IPM discussed in relation to sustainability, conservation and the potential impact of climate change.
