Risks of introduction and damage from forest insect pests in the boreal forest

据预测，在未来几十年里，加拿大北方地区森林害虫造成的损害将会增加。有害生物损害的增加可能来自通过多种入侵途径引入的非本地木材害虫，以及由森林人工林促进的本地次生害虫的出现。在这个项目中，我们将与省级（魁北克森林、动物和公园部的多个部门）和联邦监管机构（加拿大食品检验局）以及两家私营林业公司（Norbord Inc .和Rayonier Advanced materials）合作。我们将通过运输重型工业设备（矿山，锯木厂）和使用对本地和非本地蛀虫都具有广泛吸引力的新型信息素运输受感染的木柴来确定森林害虫进入北方地区的入侵途径。我们将确定森林结构、组成和管理如何影响非本地有害生物的形成风险以及本地次生有害生物的出现。然后，我们将开发一个风险模型，以确定可能增加森林害虫破坏风险的林分和景观特征。对于监管机构而言，我们的项目将改进针对森林害虫的监测和控制战略，并确定可纳入森林规划的创新造林方法。对于工业合作伙伴，我们的项目将提供切实可行的解决方案，以尽量减少虫害的损害。对加拿大来说，我们的项目将降低与虫害防治有关的成本，保护商业和娱乐用途的森林，并限制入侵物种向北方森林的蔓延。我们还将培养高素质人才的专门知识，使他们能够在气候迅速变化的情况下提出解决办法，应对即将到来的森林病虫害浪潮。我们为招聘和培训hqp提供了明确而具体的计划，目标是增加公平性、多样性和包容性。这个计划延伸到我们项目的各个方面，包括实验设计，项目决策和招聘。

Damage from forest insect pests are predicted to increase in the coming decades in Canada's boreal regions. Increased pest damage will likely come from introduction of non-native woodboring pests through multiple invasion pathways and from the emergence of native, secondary insect pests that are promoted by forests plantations. For this project, we will partner with provincial (multiple divisions of Quebec Ministry of Forests, Fauna and Parcs) and federal regulatory agencies (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) as well as two private forestry companies (Norbord Inc and Rayonier Advanced Material). We will identify invasion pathways of forest pests into the boreal region through transport of heavy equipment for industry (mines, sawmills) and transport of infested firewood using novel pheromones which are widely attractive to both native and non-native woodborers. We will identify how forest structure, composition and management affect the risk of establishment of non-native pests as well as the emergence of native, secondary pests. We will then develop a risk model to identify stand- and landscape features that may increase risk of damage by forest pests. For regulatory agencies, our project will improve monitoring and control strategies aimed at forest pests and identify new and innovative silvicultural approaches that can be integrated into forest planning. For industrial partners, our project will provide tangible solutions to minimize pest damage. For Canada, our project will reduce costs related to pest suppression, protect forests for commercial and recreational use and limit the spread of invasive species into the boreal forest. We will also generate specialized expertise of highly qualified personnel (HQP) capable of advancing solutions to a coming wave of forest pests in a rapidly changing climate. We have provided a clear and specific plan to recruit and train HQPs with the goal of increasing equity, diversity and inclusion. This plan extends to all aspects of our project including experimental design, project decision making and recruitment.