Become a member
Membership of IUFRO is open to any institution concerned with the promotion, support or conduct of research related to forests, trees and forest products.
The Forest Health in Southern Hemisphere Commercial Plantations Working Party aims to improve the management of forest health issues through increased contact and collaborations between forest health professionals. The Working Party will focus on forest health issues affecting commercial hardwood and softwood plantations in the Southern Hemisphere; in particular the focus will be on commonly planted species such as eucalypts, acacia and pines. However, we welcome any individuals from Northern Hemisphere countries who are working on the same forest species, pests and pathogens, with similar style plantation and silvicultural processes.
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE
Commercial forestry of hardwood and softwood species is an important industry for many countries in the Southern Hemisphere. There is a high degree of commonality between the species planted in different countries and correspondingly, many of the pests and pathogens that affect them. Despite the degree of similarity between plantation species and forest health issues the level of interaction between forest health professionals is limited and fragmented.
The Forest Health in Southern Hemisphere Commercial Plantations Working Party will sit under the Pathology Unit, however it will encompass both pests and pathogens, as it has been identified that many forest health professionals in the Southern Hemisphere work with both groups of organisms.
The main aims of the Working Party are to:
- Foster new linkages and improve communication between forest health professionals through regular meetings and email contact.
- Increase collaboration between forest health professionals in Southern Hemisphere countries and increase the profile of plantation forestry issues through peer-reviewed publications.
