Category: Forest Health

May 24, 2019

Within the framework of the strategic plan for forest health, the technical group in this area has been working on the implementation and testing of a new monitoring methodology. This consists of field sampling using transects in commercial plantations and trapping systems for capturing insects (sticky traps and multi-funnel traps) in specifically defined sites.

For this purpose, an open call will be made to interested parties to contract services during the fall of 2019.

As mentioned, the services to be requested are land monitoring and reading of insect capture devices, so the calls are made separately for each service.

We believe this activity is a challenge for the private sector and a valuable contribution in terms of operational effort. It is our intention that everyone participate in this challenge and that we reap the benefits for the sector as a whole.

May 24, 2019

With the aim of updating knowledge about preventive and curative pest control techniques to reduce the harm they cause, the coordinator of the SPF’s technical health group participated in the “National Symposium on Forest Pests” organized by SIF (Sociedade de Investigações Florestais) and UFV (Universidade Federal de Viçosa). The symposium took place on November 27 and 28 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil.

It also represented a good opportunity to establish contacts with technicians, producers, researchers, and other professionals in the sector to exchange experiences and strengthen ties.

Some of the topics to be highlighted at this event include:

• Mass rearing of natural enemies of introduced eucalyptus pests.
• Pest management using drones.
• Forest pest management by various companies
• Monitoring, damage and management of leafcutter ants
• FSC Forest Certification and Pest Management

SIF is a non-profit private law institution created in 1974 by association between the private sector and the university, with the objective of promoting the development of the forestry sector through scientific research.

May 24, 2019

On November 30th, in Durazno, the “Forest Nursery Health Conference” took place, an event organized by CECOPE, the Forest Health Coordination Body, comprised of the SPF, DGF, DGSSAA, and INIA. This is the second annual event that brings together nursery producers from across the country to discuss health issues of interest and exchange experiences.

It is important to note that during February 2018, as in the previous year, CECOPE consulted with nursery owners, gathering relevant information related to sanitary management and asking them about topics they would like to see addressed during the workshop. This provides an additional benefit, especially for small-scale forestry nursery owners, who can receive information directly tailored to their needs.

The 2018 program consisted of an initial morning exchange session in the classroom, where the following topics were presented:

• Presentation of the results of the Nursery Survey – M. Boscana – R. Balero (DGF)
• Regulations on the application of plant protection products – Douglas Maldini (DGSA)
• Preventive health management in forest nurseries – J. Pedro Posse (LUMIN SA)
• Forest Project 2030: Sanitary management tools for forest nurseries – Gonzalo Martínez (INIA)

In the afternoon, a visit was made to the “Altos del Yí” Nursery, near the departmental capital, where a tour of the facilities took place. Afterwards, to conclude the activity, attendees were treated to a friendly lunch, courtesy of Jaques Boutmy, the owner of the establishment.

February 20, 2023

From February 6th to 11th, the long-awaited visit of Dr. Michael Wingfield finally took place. This visit was part of a completed ANII project that the SPF had submitted in 2019 in conjunction with the Faculty of Agronomy. The project’s objective was to study the sudden death of Eucalyptus smithii.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Wingfield’s visit could not take place. However, at the end of 2022, the SPF applied for a new funding mechanism offered by ANII to partially finance the visit and consultancy. Dr. Wingfield is the founding director and advisor of the Agricultural and Forestry Biotechnology Institute (FABI) in Pretoria, South Africa. His research focuses on forest health in plantations and natural forest ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on diseases caused by insect-borne pathogens. He served as president of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) for five years and has been widely recognized for his research and academic leadership, not only in South Africa—his native country—but also internationally.

The main issues for which SPF required the South African expert’s consultation were:

The problem of sudden death in E. smithii in the early stages of rotation

The complex of beetles that attack the trunks of pines and eucalyptus trees

Dr. Wingfield’s visit was used to familiarize him with the institutional framework of forest health in Uruguay, giving him a perspective on the participation of public, private and academic actors who interact in alliances and agreements (Cecope, Forest Consortium, CAR) in pursuit of the health of Uruguay’s commercial forests.

The consultancy combined classroom sessions with field trips. The tour began in Montevideo, traveling southeast (Lavalleja and Florida) and then north to the department of Tacuarembó, before returning to Montevideo. Participants included technicians and directors from forestry companies, as well as researchers from various institutions.

INIA and UdelaR, as well as technicians from MGAP and LATU.

It was an intense week, with oppressive heat, but absolutely enjoyable and productive. Without a doubt, the SPF will find in this consultancy a wealth of answers and action plans to follow to improve the performance of the plantations at a general level, but also specifically regarding the sudden death of E. smithii and the bark beetle and ambrosia beetle complex.

July 4, 2023

The Plant Health Commission has contacted the Chilean Forest Phytosanitary Protection Consortium (CPFFC) to refine the mass rearing of key biocontrol agents and has begun work on the parasitoids Anaphes nitens and Cleruchoides noackae, within the framework of the contractual agreement with La Biofábrica. The CPFFC has been supplying biocontrol agents to private companies and the Chilean public forestry sector for over 30 years.

Rodrigo Ahumada, a member of the Consortium’s board representing Arauco, has offered to act as a liaison and coordinate a tour to visit the laboratories and facilities of the CPFFC.

It is considered a good opportunity, given the initial stage of the agreement with the Bio factory where the knowledge and experience of more than 30 years in the breeding and release of biocontrol agents can be incorporated.

A member of the Health Commission, accompanied by a technician from the Biofactory, will participate in the tour to visit the laboratories and all aspects of production, especially the rearing of A. nitens. A field trip is also planned to observe Gonipterus spp. infestations firsthand and assess the severity of the damage, as well as the egg case collection process. The laboratory visit will also include observation of rearing operations involving other biocontrol agents of interest, not just A. nitens.

This activity will most likely take place in the first week of September and will take about 5 days, with 3 effective days of field and laboratory visits.