A framework for the use of economic thresholds in forest pest management

Abstract

This paper explores the use of economic thresholds as an aid Cet article examine I'utilisation des seuils economiques en tant to decision making in forest pest management. Economic threshqu'aide a la prise de decision dans le cadre du contr6le des olds have been applied to insect, weed and hngus control probravageurs forestiers. Les seuils economiques ont ete utilises lems in agriculture. The motivation for the use of economic dans les cas de repression des insectes, des mauvais herbes et des thresholds in pest control is both the reduction of the total amount champignons en agriculture. L'idee d'utiliser les seuils konomiques of pest control product used and the more cost-effective use of dans le contr6le des ravageurs tient a la fois de la reduction de la the product that is applied. To date, however, the application of quantite totale de produit utilise dans le contr6le des ravageurs economic thresholds has been limited in forestry. Extensions of et d'une rneilleure utilisation en terme coiithenefice du produit the available framework, particularly extensions to accommodate applique. A ce jour, cependant, I'utilisation des seuils konomiques the temporal dimensions of forest production, are described. a ete resheinte en foresterie. Les agrandissement du cadre de traIssues related to data needs are identified.vail disponible, particulierement pour tenir compte des dimensions temporelles de la production forestiere, sont decrits. Les enjeux

Towards an integrated approach to modelling the risks and impacts of invasive forest species

“…Often when very little is known about a new invader, an impact assessment may simply identify the gross potential amount of host resource under threat and multiply this quantity by some unit price (Borchert et al 2007). This technique is very popular in impact assessments of exotic forest pests; however it does not address important issues such as when and where invasion-induced wood supply shortages might occur or equating the marginal benefits of management decisions with the marginal costs as would be the case in a more economically oriented approach (Fox et al 1997). The latter is a more complex problem and re- Fig.…”

“…Given the potentially significant economic ramifications, any decision about managing non-indigenous species should be based on the best available biological and ecological knowledge about the invading organism (Fox et al 1997). We suggest that this objective can be better addressed by combining biophysical and economic components into a single integrated modelling framework.…”

Control of Low-Level Nantucket Pine Tip Moth Populations: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

“…However, small profit margins in forestry suggest that tip moth management can be important if damage levels exceed 30% of shoots infested on a regular basis. In addition, a continual reduction in the rotation length of loblolly pine grown for pulpwood or sawtimber will likely result in greater economic benefits from pest control (Fox et al 1997). Hedden (1998) suggests that tip moth attack in the first generation of each year is particularly harmful and that these generations are good candidates for control.…”

“…This lack of knowledge has inhibited the use of chemical control against this pest, the cost of which may exceed marginal increases in productivity (Cade andHedden 1987, Cameron 1996). The application of economic thresholds to forestry problems has been limited, because of, in part, much longer production cycles than those in agriculture (Fox et al 1997). In addition, establishing an economic threshold for R. frustrana has been particularly daunting because of the multiple and variable number of generations throughout its range (two to five) and the considerable variation in site characteristics, growth rate, and management intensity of loblolly pine throughout the southeastern United States.…”

Economic analysis of forest insect pests in Canada

“…Alternatively, the amount of management effort may be fixed and economic analysis is conducted to uncover the threshold level of pest activity that would justify the treatment. Threshold analysis is common in pest management in agriculture but has also been done in a forestry setting (Fox et al 1997).…”