Author Moore, B.

Year of publication 2005

This book concentrates, but not exclusively, on insects, diseases and woody species that have the potential to become invasive. An integral part of sustainable forest management includes measures to protect forests from natural threats such as fire, insects and diseases. Increasingly, an additional, and more severe threat, has been affecting the forest sector worldwide - alien invasive species. While the definitions and impacts of invasive species on the forest sector are still debated and need reviewing in the context of forest management, a number of initiatives, programmes and activities have been initiated. Most programmes focus on damage caused to local forest ecosystems, or to particular species or group of species, by a given pest over a period of time. There is an overall lack of information on alien invasive species and the forest sector at the global scale. Information sharing is necessary in the planning and implementation of any strategy for the management of alien invasive species. The purpose of this book is to provide early information on on-going activities and programmes, and to stimulate discussion and awareness about invasive species and their impact on worlds forests.