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19 May 2017

Important Information On Forest Health And Entomologic Threats

By Daniel Moore


Forests are largely considered crucial to both animals and humans. They generally stabilize and support ecosystems, support livelihoods, play a key role in the carbon cycle and various gains. Owing to the vital roles played by forests towards healthy ecosystems, forest health and entomologic threats need to always be monitored in order to protect the ecosystems.

Currently, vast forestlands remain under pressure from pollution, overexploitation, agricultural practice expansion, and intensification as well as population pressure. Combined with the effects of climate change, forestlands are even threatened further with threats posed by insects. All these are factors that influence the health of the forests and thus impairing its ability to maintain the ecosystems.

Among the different natural and the non-natural pressures faced by the forests one is the entomologic threats. Usually, insects are beneficial and destructive to the forests as well. Their impact result in a healthy, dwindled or unhealthy forest. First, insects usually offer several benefits to the forests, as well as keeping them healthy.

The first benefit is that some of the native insects are usually beneficial in maintaining and reducing aging of the trees. As a result, the forests become more productive and are able to support a healthy ecosystem. When there is large infestation by insects regularly, the forests are renewed. The old trees are usually destroyed which result in releasing the nutrients stored in them and utilized to support the new trees.

Native insect infestations as well support the development of healthy forests by eliminating any sick or unhealthy tree. Commonly the elimination of the unhealthy or sick trees implies that only genetically superior trees and those free of diseases reproduce and form new healthy forestlands. This development of healthy forests can then support healthy ecosystems.

On the other hand, insects usually aid in eliminating competition between trees hence making ecosystems to be more productive. By destroying and eliminating the sick, aged as well as the unhealthy trees, insects will reduce unnecessary competition for nutrients and, on the other hand, increase the nutrient supply to the residual trees. Insects especially the native ones also aid in pollination of trees. Cross-pollination particularly aided by the insects ensure that only genetically superior trees will thrive.

However, insects also present various entomologic threats to the life and existence of forests. Insect invasions usually reduce the forest areas by attacking both healthy and unhealthy trees. Nevertheless, this may be considered temporary because trees can always regrow. Alien insect, as well as disease pests, on the other hand, are a threat to forests since they will destroy trees and present difficulties of controlling their populations. Worse still alien insects present difficulties in predicting their trends.

Also, the alien insects spread rapidly which result in extensive destruction of trees. Usually, this is a challenge in those areas where the insects invading the forestlands and causing diseases do not have existing natural enemies to help keep their population in check. In other cases, some organisms and trees do not have natural ways to resist invading insects.




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