General
Recommendations to international organizations
Technical recommendations
1. The Symposium recommends that research should be strengthened to provide additional information on the identification, distribution and biology of forest pathogens and forest insects; on the fundamental causes of outbreaks; on the interrelationships between forest pests and their hosts; and on effective means of control and their application. It is only through such research that adequate protection can be provided to both natural forests and to the large areas of man-made forests already established or planned. In this increased effort, close co-operation should be developed with agricultural or other appropriate research organizations, particularly in regions where forest research resources are limited.
2. The Symposium recommends that more and better quantitative evaluation be made of direct and indirect losses from forest diseases and insects as a basis for determining more effective orientation of research programs and appropriate expenditures for forest pest research, surveys, and control.
3. The Symposium recommends that periodic, preferably annual, reports on forest disease and insect conditions be published for all countries, preferably using a uniform format that will facilitate wide international use.
4. In view of the pressing need for well-trained forest entomologists and pathologists and the lack of adequate training facilities in many parts of the world, the Symposium recommends that countries now enjoying well-staffed and equipped forest entomological and pathological services develop means of providing general and specialized training of forest entomologists and pathologists from developing countries. Attention should be given to the desirability, in many cases, of making such training available in the home countries of these students.
5. The Symposium recognizes the many and varied benefits being derived from regional working groups or conferences in forest pathology and entomology now existing in certain parts of the world, such as the Nordic countries, eastern Europe and North America, and strongly encourages forest entomologists and pathologists in other parts of the world to form similar groups to improve communication and to co-ordinate efforts toward the solution of common problems.
6. The Symposium recognizes the advantages that may be obtained in forest protection through biological control measures, primarily with regard to insects. It pays tribute to the work of two major international agencies (CIBC and CILB) active in biological control, welcomes the recent formation of an International Advisory Committee for Biological Control, and recommends that forest protection agencies take full advantage of its services.
7. In the light of evidence of the dangers inherent in the intercontinental movement of forest insects and pathogens, and the desirability of preventing or at least delaying detrimental effects, the Symposium recognizes that one of the most important means of achieving this objective is by quarantine restrictions on the movements of seed, living plant material, and wood in its various forms.
8. Although seed is recognized as the safest means of moving propagation material, seed nevertheless can carry fungi and possibly other kinds of pathogens, particularly if the seed has been inadequately cleaned. All countries importing seed should ensure that it is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and that it is accompanied by an adequate phytosanitary certificate.
9. The Symposium considers that intercontinental trade in commercial lines of forest plants which can be propagated from seed is unnecessary and does not justify the risks involved. The attention of plant protection services should be drawn to the parallel risks involved with respect to other commercial living plant materials.
10. Disinfection and disinfestation of forest plant material should be undertaken whenever techniques are known and whenever this can be done without damage to the consignment. This applies to intercontinental movement and also to certain movements within a continent and even within a country.
11. It is desirable that every country establish a system for nursery inspection and certification of health for plant material growing in nurseries as an important measure of preventing the spread of diseases, insects and other pests.
12. There is evidence that the movement between countries of wood products such as logs, sawn timber, other manufactured products, packing cases, containers, and ship's dunnage, can help to spread dangerous or potentially dangerous wood- and bark-boring insects. Taking into account the particular vulnerability of countries growing or intending to grow large areas of exotic forests, the Symposium recommends that, with such exceptions as are acceptable to the importing country, bark be excluded from all wood products entering international trade.
13. All countries should endeavor to ensure that wood exported in any form is free from living insects or pathogenic fungi.
14. In the case of sawn timber, squares, box shooks, shingles, plywood and other manufactured products, when the need is established, importing countries would be justified in requiring phytosanitary certification. This would also apply to certain special types of packaging material which are considered by the importing country to constitute a particular risk.
15. For all types of packaging material which may carry a risk of spreading forest pests, exporters, manufacturers, timber merchants and packing case manufacturers should be encouraged to adopt a self-inspection service so as to reduce the risk and so that they will be in a position to comply with the import requirements of many importing countries.
16. The Symposium recommends that increased attention should be given by plant quarantine authorities to forest materials and that to this end close collaboration should be established between these authorities and forest services.
17. Recognizing that the ultimate value of any quarantine regulations or systems depends on the efficiency of the inspection staff, the Symposium urges that inspection personnel be given the best possible training in the recognition of infested plant and plant product materials moving internationally, and that they be directed by professionally trained supervisors who maintain the closest possible liaison with forest research groups. Where circumstances warrant, and particularly in territories engaged in large-scale export or import of timber, quarantine services should consider the possibility of employing inspectors specifically trained for this work.
18. Since opportunities for the international movement of potential pests are increasing, the Symposium recognizes the need for efficient continuing detection services commensurate with the amount of plant and plant product material being imported, and the extent of plantations of exotic trees. The interception lists maintained by some countries provide a guide of what species the detection services should particularly look for.
19. The principle adopted by some regional plant protection organizations that similar plant quarantine safeguards should be applied within homogeneous regions should be introduced in other areas where this is not the case.
20. Public co-operation in the observance of plant quarantine requirements is essential if such requirements are to be successfully enforced. Every possible avenue of mass media should be utilized by plant quarantine officials to publicize their activities. An example of such publicity which is commended for consideration by other countries is the United States practice of inserting a summary of national plant quarantine requirements in passports.
21. The Symposium endorses the recommendations of the Consultation on Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement, held in Stockholm in 1963, for the formation of:
(a) an IUFRO working group on forest genetics dealing; with tree resistance to insects and disease;
(b) an IUFRO working group on tree physiology;
(c) an FAO Symposium with IUFRO to promote the improvement of knowledge of tree physiology.
22. The Symposium proposes that FAO stimulate the formation of regional research laboratories to investigate tree disease and insect problems for groups of countries which have common forest interests and which lack research facilities.
23. The Symposium recommends that FAO appoint at the earliest possible date qualified additional staff in forest entomology and pathology to stimulate international co-operation and to assist in providing information and guidance.
24. The Symposium proposes that the services of FAO be used for co-ordinating plans for the training of forest entomologists and forest pathologists from developing countries.
25. The Symposium recommends the formation of a subgroup on tree viruses within the IUFRO Working, Group on International Co-operation in Forest Disease Research to promote the interchange of information on tree viruses, to encourage standard methods and procedures, and to facilitate the interchange of seed of known test plants and of antisera whenever possible.
26. Recognizing the value to forest pathology of the adoption of a system of mechanized world literature search such as the INTREDIS Register, the Symposium recommends that the ad hoc committee now established for this purpose consider this matter in liaison with all existing bodies working in this field and submit recommendations to IUFRO and FAO by 1 June 1965.
27. The Symposium welcomes the steps now taken to carry forward the organization and development of the recently established Working Group under Section 2.1 (Forest Protection) of IUFRO on International Co-operation in Forest Insect Research, and commends its stated objectives, which are:
(a) to provide more adequate representation of forest entomology within IUFRO;
(b) to improve communication among forest entomologists on an international scale;
(c) to provide an advisory service on scientific and technical aspects of forest entomology;
(d) to organize and stimulate discussion groups or meetings in forest entomology or closely related subjects.
28. The Symposium requests FAO, to continue its activity in collecting and disseminating information pertaining to the technique of effective and safe means of disinfection and disinfestation of forest plant material.
29. The Symposium requests FAO to consult appropriate international organizations as a first step in getting international agreement to the principle that only timber free from bark and live insects should be used in ship's dunnage.
30. The Symposium considers that FAO and IUFRO could play an important role in disseminating research results, and in promoting the formulation of standards, in respect of methods and techniques of disinfection and disinfestation of wood products.
31. The International Plant Protection Convention of 1951 does not adequately provide for the certification of timber and timber products the Symposium, there fore, recommends that if and when the Convention is revised, Article. II be formally amended to include timber and timber products, and that provision also be made for either a new model certificate for these products or such additional declarations as may be required to provide the needed safeguards.
32. Most regional plant protection organizations have so far given comparatively little attention to plant quarantine as it affects forest plants and products. The Symposium recommends that where this has not already been done these regional organizations take steps to give more detailed consideration to problems affecting quarantine of forest materials, possibly by the setting up of forestry subcommittees or other similar specialized bodies within their organizations.
33. For the effective practice of plant quarantine, it is essential that there should be a thorough knowledge of the most important insects and diseases occurring in all parts of the world. The Symposium, therefore, recommends that FAO, or other suitable organizations, compile regional lists of the forest insects and diseases which are most likely to be a potential danger. Such lists should include the best-known synonyms of insects, pathogens, hosts and alternate hosts. Where necessary, the lists should be annotated, and provision should be made for their revision.
34. The Symposium considers that the meeting in Oxford has provided a concrete and satisfying example of the benefits of good collaboration between FAO and IUFRO. It has led to actions that should be useful in lessening the losses from forest diseases and insects. It recommends that this close collaboration should be continued and that a similar Symposium should be organized within the next decade.
35. Recognizing that the potential of silvicultural means of controlling forest insects and diseases is not fully appreciated and implemented on a world basis, the Symposium emphasizes that this field deserves much greater attention and study and that real progress depends on close liaison among entomologists, pathologists, silviculturists, forest managers, and scientists in related fields.
36. The Symposium recommends that the preparation of annotated lists of insects and pathogens undertaken in some countries should be continued and extended to other countries; the lists of pathogens for the host genera Pinus, Populus and Quercus should be extended to cover more countries, and the work should be expanded to include other important genera.
37. The Symposium recommends that periodic examinations be made of the many plantations of exotic trees established throughout the world in order to appraise disease susceptibility and hazard.
38. The knowledge of seedborne forest pathogens and of methods of disinfecting forest tree seed is insufficient; more research should be done on these problems.
39. In order to make effective postentry quarantine possible, the Symposium recommends that clonal and other materials considered necessary for tree improvement or research purposes should be introduced in minimum quantities, and, if necessary, held in closed quarantine for times commensurate with the incubation period of known potential pathogens. This applies equally to newly developed ornamental trees and shrubs which can only be reproduced vegetatively.
40. More research is needed to determine the most effective and safe means of disinfection and disinfestation of living forest plant material.
41. To permit the formulation of minimum standards for disinfection and disinfestation of wood products entering into international trade, the Symposium recommends more research to develop and improve reliable measures to accomplish this objective.
42. Plant quarantine enforcement in connection with forest as well as other materials is at present handicapped in many cases by difficulties encountered in the detection of infections or infestations in materials moving in international traffic. The Symposium recommends that plant quarantine services in all countries strengthen research to improve fungal and insect detection techniques.
43. In view of the dangers inherent in the transmittal in soil of nematodes, bacteria, fungi and other potentially dangerous plant pathogens, forest authorities should recognize the dangers of deliberately transferring mycorrhiza in soil from one country to another. Their attention is drawn to alternative methods, e.g., pure cultures.
