The Fifth World Forestry Congress, held in Seattle in 1960, agreed that catastrophic losses to tree species had been caused on all continents by introduced diseases, that there is need for more information on forest diseases of all continents, on how they may be recognized, and on the susceptibility to them of important tree species of other continents. Similarly, there is need for more information about forest insects and for improved quarantine procedures. More research is required to determine the fundamental factors responsible for past outbreaks and to improve prevention and control measures.
The XIII Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in Vienna, 1961, recommended that FAO sponsor a joint symposium to assess the situation in these fields and to recommend what action should be taken. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the Conference of FAO. The Government of the United Kingdom generously offered to host the meeting, and arrangements were made through the Forestry Commission of Great Britain, the University of Oxford and the Commonwealth Forestry Institute. The program was prepared in close co-operation with IUFRO, in particular with the chairmen of the working groups of Section 24 of IUFRO on international co-operation in forest diseases and forest insect research.
This FAO/IUFRO Symposium on Internationally Dangerous Forest Diseases and Insects took place at Oxford, from 20 to 29 July 1964. It was attended by 140 participants representing 34 countries and, in addition to IUFRO, 7 international or regional organizations, namely, the World Meteorological Organization, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, the International Commission for Biological Control, the Inter-African Phytosanitary Commission, the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology, and the East African Common Services Organization.
The papers presented at the Symposium are being published in two separate volumes. In addition, a volume containing a Dumber of papers on "Diseases of widely planted forest trees" has been edited by the Working Group on Diseases referred to above. Lists of the papers and their authors, and of the participants and officers of the Symposium appear in the Appendixes.
On 20 and 21 July, excursions were made to the Forest Research Station of the Forestry Commission, and to the Forest Products Research Laboratory. The opening meeting on 22 July was addressed by Professor M. V. Laurie, Head of the Department of Forestry of the University, who expressed satisfaction over the choice of Oxford as the location for the Symposium, especially because active developments in the field of forest pathology and forest entomology were at present taking place there; this referred to work on Commonwealth check-lists of diseases and insects, to initiation of research on forest tree virus diseases, and to the recent establishment of a unit of insect pathology.
Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse, Director-General of the Forestry Commission, drew attention to the increasing interference of man in forest regeneration, especially with regard to "man-made forests." There are attendant risks, and success will be limited unless these risks are recognized and appropriate steps taken to counter the damaging agents. There is no reason for panic action or inaction, but foresters should neither ignore the risks nor be ignorant of them. In the use of means such as insecticides and fungicides there are secondary risks of a more subtle nature, namely, the possible side effects which are frequently insufficiently understood and which call for caution. Sir Henry paid compliments to the work of the Forestry and Forest Products Division of FAO and was glad that the Symposium was being sponsored jointly with IUFRO. He then declared the Symposium open.
The Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry and Forest Products Division, Jack C. Westoby, greeted the participants on behalf of the Director-General of FAO. He said that the world of today required increased effort and investment in forest production, but at the same time there are factors working against these aims and reducing the benefits which would otherwise be available to mankind. To minimize the effect of such negative production factors is no less important than to improve silviculture and management. Research and investment directed toward reducing losses is as important and can be as effective as that directed toward expanding production. My. Westoby then strongly emphasized the need for quantitative estimates of actual or potential damage; without estimates of the economic and social impact, sufficient means for progress would not be forthcoming. Also, while in no way slackening on principles or level of work, forest pathologists and entomologists should see to it that their efforts are understood in wider circles. New and partly unknown risks follow the trend toward plantation forestry which is manifest on all continents.
In the absence for health reasons of the Chairman of IUFRO Section 24 (Forest Protection), Professor A. Biraghi (Italy), the Chairman of the Working Group on Forest Diseases, Dr. J. R. Hansbrough (U.S.A.) agreed to act as Chairman of the Symposium, in addition to being Chairman of the meetings devoted to diseases. Dr. B. M. McGugan (Canada), Chairman of the Working Group on Forest Insects, had agreed to chair the meetings on insects; and Mr. A. P. Thomson (New Zealand) those on quarantine. The Symposium then began its regular meetings which continued until 29 July.
During the Symposium, separate meetings were held by the IUFRO Working Group on International Cooperation in Forest Insect Research, to discuss their organization and program of work. An ad hoe meeting was also held by members of the Working Party on Diseases, of the FAO International Poplar Commission, as well as by a group of forest entomologists of the Mediterranean region.
The Director of the FAO Forestry and Forest Products Division, Dr. N. A. Osara, in his foreword to the program said that "this Symposium should provide an excellent opportunity for taking stock of the international situation, and I am confident that the results will be useful to governments, forest services, research and educational establishments, and to international organizations... The Forestry and Forest Products Division of FAO hopes to obtain guidance from the Symposium with regard to our future work in the field of forest protection."
The chapters that follow have been written after the Symposium by G. N. Hepting, V. J. Nordin, T. S. Buchanan, R. R. Lejeune, G. P. Thomas, C. W. Farstad, H. Pschorn-Walcher, J. E. Kuntz, F. Roll-Hansen and J. S. Murray, with assistance by B. M. McGugan and B. Lekander. Some authors have taken a different approach from others with regard to style; it is hoped that the readers will take this as desirable variation rather than as a defect. The recommendations have been edited by FAO.
