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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2016
- Title: Imported Forest Pests and Pathogens in the U.S.: Impacts and Policy Options
- Primary Author: Marissa Weiss (Harvard Forest)
- Additional Authors: Kathy Fallon Lambert (Harvard Forest); David Foster (Harvard University); Gary Lovett (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies); David Orwig (Harvard Forest)
- Abstract:
Forest pests pose one of the most serious and urgent threats for many forests and urban and suburban trees in the U.S. In a time of climate change, we rely increasingly on forests for their carbon storage, storm water management, cooling, and biodiversity protection benefits. Meanwhile, invasive pests are gnawing away at our important natural infrastructure at an alarming rate. Despite annual costs in the billions, the impact of invasive insects and pathogens is under-appreciated.
Pests are unintentionally introduced via global trade. But most efforts to combat pests focus on managing the insects and pathogens once they arrive, rather than preventing their arrival through clean trade strategies.
We are increasing public and policy attention to trade measures that offer solutions to the forest pest problem. In 2014, we brought together top scientists and policy experts from across the U.S. and assembled the most comprehensive paper available on the forest pest problem, its ecological and economic impacts, and potential policy solutions.
Our synthesis shows that preventing the arrival of new pests holds the greatest promise for safeguarding our nation’s forests and community trees.
This project is led by the Cary Institute and coordinated by the Science Policy Exchange, a partnership of six leading northeastern research institutes including Harvard Forest, dedicated to connecting people and science for environmental solutions. The Science Policy Exchange is based at Harvard Forest.
- Research Category: Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens
