Biosecurity surveillance for small forest plantations

The Farm Forestry Association has been successful in gaining a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) grant aimed at developing a biosecurity programme for small plantation forests. This is great news for forest biosecurity generally, because it will help address pest and disease risks associated with the estimated 600,000 hectares of forest that are not currently included in any organised surveillance scheme.

A recent report by international experts on the state of New Zealand forest surveillance applauded the Forest Owners Association (FOA) surveillance programme that covers 1.2 million hectares of mainly large commercial forests. The report did, however, express concern over the lack of coverage for small, non-FOA forest blocks.

The Farm Forestry Association and SPS Biosecurity Ltd, who assisted with the SFF application, hope to make important changes in addressing deficiencies around small forest biosecurity by:

  • identifying where the small forests are and which ones may potentially be at a high risk to a new pest introduction
  • providing owners with information that will allow them to assess and sample their own plantations for pests with confidence.

Site-related factors that will be considered in determining a forest’s risk include proximity to activities associated with trade, tourism and even research. These are the same types of risk criteria used by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to prioritise locations for their High Risk Site Surveillance (HRSS).

Undertaking regular inspections of the many small forests in New Zealand is, unfortunately, not an option at this stage. Therefore, much of the programme will be directed at raising owner awareness and also promoting a good degree of ‘self-help’.

In the course of their work, SPS Biosecurity staff often meet forest growers who, although suspecting they might have a forest pest issue, have either lacked the confidence to take a sample or wasted their time sampling the wrong thing.

It is intended that a field guide will be produced and promoted that aims to demonstrate ‘how to look’ for pests using symptom-based techniques and that advises ‘what further steps to take’, such as sampling.

The main goal of the work proposed behind this grant is to modify behaviours, so people naturally consider the potential biosecurity issues affecting their forests, and to then provide them with the skills and confidence required to undertake useful follow-up action.

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Page last updated: 12 June 2008