Evolution, outbreak and impact of local insects on conifer plantations

Conifer plantation development in the sub-Sahara is characterized by carelessness and uncertainty about the viability of the enterprise. But in East Africa, foresters know the dangers of fire, weed and diseases in plantation forestry and take care of them dutifully. Such elaborate system of plantation protection misses out on two production constraints: insect pests and diseases. This book narrates the history of pest problems in exotic conifers of Uganda. Silvicultural practices as causal factors of pest problems are described in Chapter Three. Theory of host-shifting to exotic conifers is dealt with in Chapter Four. Probable dietary influence on biology of selected outbreak insect species in conifer plantations are described in Chapters Seven and Eight. Impacts of defoliation on pines and related environmental services are presented in Chapter Nine. Knowledge packaged in this book is important to pest managers who need to understand the theory of population dynamics and pest outbreaks before they can manage insect pests. This book is also valuable to undergraduate students of Forestry, Agriculture, Zoology, Entomology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, teachers and researchers.