Overview
Forest protection is concerned with minimizing the loss or other harmful effects, caused by harmful agents e.g. insect-pests, pathogens, weeds and fire. Forest Entomology in India has had an evolutionary history starting from documentation of insect diversity to pest management efforts to increase the forest productivity. Research perspectives on Forest Entomology can be summarized under two broad areas of research – Insect Biodiversity and Pest Management in forest ecosystems.
Insect Biodiversity
In general, forest insects have been studied not as fauna representing a particular forest habitat but as a member of various taxonomic groups. Efforts are needed to take on the already existing taxonomic knowledge to the realm of ecology where in ecosystem function, community structure and sensitivity of insects to environmental variables are studied much more closely. Taking advantage of the diverse bio-climatic zones in India, simultaneous studies on the same group of insects with respect to biology and intra species diversity in different parts of India will provide much needed information on the impact of climate change on insects.
Pest Management
With the consciousness of using the chemicals judiciously to minimize the pollution hazards, the scientists recommended the pest should be controlled by integrating the use of biological agents with the use of green level of insecticides. The ultimate aim of scientific pest management is to maintain a low level of pest population, which would not only maintain the damage lower than the economic injury level but also support the growth and survival of its natural enemies. The concept is to suppress the pest but not to annihilate it. Through Increased efforts are needed to keep chemical pesticides out of the forest ecosystem, including plantations. This would require focused research on Insect “Behavior Modifying Chemicals” Insect Tree Resistance, bio-control agents and the like. There is also an urgent need to study the influence of climate change on the development of disease and pest, population dynamic of organisms, host-insect interaction, so that suitable management strategies are advised well in advance to prevent any eco-disaster in future and to ensure sustainability of ecosystem services of the life supporting system different forest ecosystem.