Dr. Pedro Antunes has been appointed research chairman of invasive species biology at Algoma University by the provincial government.
Antunes will develop an international network of researchers through the university’s Invasive Species Research Institute and will conduct invasive species research on critical priorities in Ontario.
He will also work closely with the Invasive Species Centre in addressing the threat of forest invasive species and invasive plants.
Forest health management includes control programs, research, expert advice, education and transfer, development of pest control methods and products, policy development and implementation, development of best practices and their inclusion in forest management activities and interagency collaboration.
When specific forest health problems arise, such as an insect outbreak, a formal planning process is followed as outlined in the Forest Management Planning Manual.
Research and development in forest health in Ontario is conducted by several agencies. Staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR’s) Ontario Forest Research Institute focus mainly on forest pathology. The CFS conducts research in all aspects of forest health, including entomology, pathology, forest decline, climate change, forest health monitoring methodologies, impacts on forest health, development of pest control methods and products, ecosystem impacts of pest management activities, biological control, pheromones, exotic organisms, and more.
MNR provides leadership in research and development by either conducting the work in-house or cooperating in partnership with others such as the CFS, universities, and private companies.
One such partnership conducting research and development in forest health is Spray Efficiency Research Group (SERG), whose members include representatives from most other Canadian provinces, CFS and the U.S. Forest Service.
