Pest and Pesticide Management on Southern Forests

摘要

Society benefits greatly from the wise management of forest lands. The management objectives for southern forests vary considerably across the region, especially among ownerships. Management practices used by public agencies are usually aimed at balancing the outputs of wood production, wildlife, recreation, range, water, and mineral resources. Intensive forest management practiced by forest industry often attempts to optimize the production of wood products while managing the other resources of wildlife and water quality. Private management of woodlots and tree farms provides a source of income, recreation, and pride for many individual landowners. Foresters manage groups of trees that are relatively uniform in species composition, size, and density called stands. Pests affect nearly every forest stand. Pests are plants, insects, diseases, or animals that hinder management objectives, especially regeneration efforts. Pests can increase costs of reforestation while reducing stand growth, product quality, and management efficiency. Pest outbreaks can mar the beauty of recreational forests, hinder plantings for soil stabilization, and complicate research studies.