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Forest management Pests and diseases Socio economic research

The aim of this PhD project is to evaluate how insect pests are managed in forestry and find ways to improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within the industry.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a coordinated, ecosystem-based strategy that aims to prevent, detect and control insect pests in order to enhance forest yields whilst reducing negative environmental impacts.  
This research will assess current pest management practises, gather information on forest manager knowledge and attitudes, and identify methods that could be adapted or improved.  An IPM evaluation metric will also be developed and tested to help identify knowledge gaps and direct future research.

Research objectives

  • Review scientific literature and policy and practise guidance regarding pest management in forestry.
  • Generate qualitative data from interviews with forest managers to understand their views and experiences of pest management.
  • Identify integrated pest management (IPM) methods used in other sectors (e.g. agriculture) that could be adapted for forestry.
  • Conduct a series of case studies to evaluate existing pest management strategies and scrutinise the development of new pest control methods and their integration into IPM strategies.
  • Develop and test a metric that can be used to evaluate the use of Integrated Pest Management in UK forestry.
  • Formulate recommendations and industry guidance based on research findings.

Latest updates

This 6 year part-time PhD project started in September 2020.

Our Involvement

Katrina Dainton is undertaking this PhD as part of her role as a Research Entomologist at Forest Research.

Related information

Pest management with Dendroctonus micans – Forest Research 

Funding & partners
  • The Scottish Forestry Trust
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Scotland's Rural College

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Integrated forest management of Hylobius abietis

Investigating the potential of Integrated Forest Management of Hylobius abietis to reduce chemical inputs

Status current
Authors
Forestry Staff Dainton Katrina.90beb63b.fill 600x600 1
Katrina Dainton

Research Entomologist

Themes
Forest management, Pests and diseases, Socio economic research