| Physiologically-stressed trees may become more attractive, more nutritious, and less resistant to phytophagous insects. Conversely, climatic warming likely will be beneficial to many forest pests. An increase in forest pest outbreaks is predicted and may be one of the first observable signs of climate change. Examples of forest pests that could have increased impacts on forests in British Columbia include the white pine weevil, the western spruce budworm, the Douglas-fir beetle, and the pinewood nematode. Large scale, pest-caused forest decline and mortality will have long-term environmental and economic consequences. Industrial timber supplies as well as aesthetic/wilderness values will be impacted. Declining forests will release stored carbon dioxide and will have reduced abilities to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby contributing to a more severe greenhouse effect. Forest pest management could become as important in the maintenance of forests for carbon dioxide sinks as it is for the protection of industrial timber supplies. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
