Forest weed, insect pest and disease management Ensis Forest Biosecurity and Protection provides the information necessary to devise management strategies for weeds, pests and diseases once they become established. This expertise forms an important part of the biosecurity network and requires a specialised understanding of forest management systems.
Specific research projects are focused on enabling forest growers and government agencies to manage pest organisms in a way that minimises their impact on production and on the environment.
Specialist skills within the group include: Pest ecology – Understanding and modeling the relationships betweens pests, their hosts, and environmental factors.
Modelling effects of pests – Predicting the expected incidence and impacts of pests on productivity.
Integrated pest management – Applying multiple tools to achieve management objectives including:
- Biological control – identifying, evaluating, and rearing biological control agents targeted against both weeds and insect pests.
- Cultural control – Manipulating forest management operations and regimes to minimise pest effects.
- Chemical control – Cost-effective use of biological or synthetic pesticides in a way that maximises their efficacy and minimises unwanted environmental impacts.
Hazard rating – Site disease hazard rating to aid species and site selection for new plantations.
Spray application technology – Improving the environmental and economic performance of aerial and ground-based pesticide application.
Contact: Dr Brian Richardson
General Manager – Ensis Forest Biosecurity and Protection
Email: brian.richardson@ensisjv.com
Phone: +64 7 343 5777
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