by: Ulla Vänttinen
The United Nations has published a new guidebook entitled Guide to Implementation of Phytosanitary Standards in Forestry. It provides suggestions on how to reduce the risk of pest spread and to implement effective pest management strategies at every step of the forest commodities chain.
A guide put together by the Food and Agriculture Organisastion (FAO) aims to help countries prevent forest-damaging pests from spreading to new areas as a result of climate change and growing global trade. “Due to climate change, previously inhospitable sites can become suitable for ‘alien’ pests that are accidentally transported through international trade in wood products, seeds or nursery plants – as well as trade in other commodities packaged with wood materials,” said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Forestry. The guide was presented by the agency on 10 November 2011, during the Second Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in Beijing.
The guide, which was written by an international group of scientists and plant health experts, is intended for policy-makers, managers and forest workers. It is currently available in four languages: Chinese, English, French, and Russian at:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2080e/i2080e00.htm
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