New Zealand Journal of Forestry (2014) 59(2): 44–45
©New Zealand Institute of Forestry

Opinion
Effective biosecurity is built on strong partnerships

Brian Richardson <sup>1

1</sup> General manager for forest science, Scion

A recent trip to the United States provided plenty of reason to pause and reflect on the potentially devastating effects of introduced pests on forest ecosystems. Examples of the dramatic impacts of pests include: chestnut blight, which virtually eliminated American chestnut; Dutch elm disease, which has had a similar effect on elms; gypsy moth, a major defoliator of eastern forests; the balsam and hemlock woolly adelgids; the emerald ash borer that is currently more or less eliminating ash from large areas of its natural habitat; and Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of ‘sudden oak death’. Government and the forest industry acknowledge the importance of forest biosecurity in New Zealand. It is critical for safeguarding the health of our forests, meeting the phytosanitary requirements of trading partners, and providing investor confidence in forestry. The need for continuous improvement in our biosecurity has been reinforced by events such as the emergence of Red Needle Cast, the ongoing battle against kauri dieback, and the recent incursion of the eucalyptus leaf beetle.
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