1 December 2006
The visit of a British scientist to Ensis in Rotorua marks a strengthening relationship between forest health specialists in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Dr David Wainhouse has received an OECD Fellowship to spend 10 weeks with the Ensis Forest Biosecurity and Protection (FBP) group based at Scion. Ensis is the unincorporated joint venture between Crown Research Institute, Scion, and CSIRO in Australia.
The forest entomologist will use this opportunity to investigate the resistance of radiata pine to attack from pine weevil, and to learn more about New Zealand’s biosecurity systems.
The timing of his visit coincides with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Scion and Forest Research in Britain, which will enable closer ties between the two forest health groups.
Ensis FBP General Manager, Dr Brian Richardson, says forest health and biosecurity issues are becoming increasingly global in nature.
“Issues that arise in New Zealand have often been experienced elsewhere, and vice versa.
“For this reason, it is valuable for us to form closer ties with forest health researchers overseas, so we can learn from each other and share information more readily,” he says.
The pine weevil which forms the focus of Dr Wainhouse’s study is an important pest of young pines in Europe.
Although New Zealand does not have this pest, his research will help scientists to devise a management strategy should it ever arrive.
“This is the type of information sharing that can assist both countries,” Dr Richardson says.
The OECD fellowship that is paying for Dr Wainhouse’s visit is part of an exchange agreement.
A second Fellowship was awarded to Rotorua scientist, Nod Kay, who traveled to Britain earlier this year to visit UK Forest Research, an Agency of the British Forestry Commission.
During this visit the Ensis FBP entomologist furthered his ground-breaking research into why island plant species are less palatable to insects than continental species.
His aim is to understand what chemical mechanisms are used by certain plant species to protect themselves from insect attack.
Ensis’ achievement in winning the prestigious OECD Fellowship points to the significance of forest health research, which addresses issues of global importance.
“Forest health and biosecurity research is a highly specialised field, and the world has a limited number of scientists dedicated to this field of study.
“Anything we can do to cooperate and share information will help us to build capability in a vital area for the benefit of the forest industry and our respective countries.
“This exchange opportunity is an important step in this relationship-building process,” Dr Richardson says.