THE NORTH AMERICAN FOREST INSECT WORK CONFERENCE: DEFINING THE CRITICAL ISSUES IN FOREST ENTOMOLOGY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0203391
• Grant No.: 2005-37610-15648
• Proposal No.: 2005-04073
• Project Start Date: Jun 1, 2005
• Project End Date: Nov 11, 2007
• Grant Year: 2005
• Program Code: [NI]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001

Performing Department
ENTOMOLOGY

Non Technical Summary
The North American Forest Insect Work Conference (NAFIWC) is the conclave of the forest entomology community. The conference is scheduled on a five year cycle and is intended to provide a forum for discussion of contemporary issues in forest entomology. The principal benefit of the conference has traditionally been information exchange. This conference will expand this goal to include a definition of the critical issues facing the forest entomology community. A facilitated approach with a published proceedings will be used.

Animal Health Component

30%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

30%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
123	0613	1130	50%
216	0613	1130	50%

Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0613 - Mixed conifer-broadleaf forests;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

metamorphosis

forest protection

forest insects

workshops

entomology

forestry

forests

mixed stands

forest stands

integrated pest management

forest resources

sustainable agriculture

silviculture

information exchange

north america

publications

guidelines

forest ecosystems

invasive species

stakeholders

biodiversity

Goals / Objectives
Project Goal and Objectives: The goal of this project is to plan, organize, and conduct the 2006 North American Forest Insect Work Conference. The specific objectives are (i) to promote a North America-wide information exchange within the forest entomology community and (2) to identify the critical issues facing this enterprise in the near future. The outcome of the conference will be a proceedings that captures the contemporary view of technical issues associated with forest entomology and an agenda of critical issues that will serve to guide forest entomology research, development, applications, and education during the next five years.

Project Methods
The conference will feature a daily plenary session in which invited speakers will provide their insight into issues of change in forest ecosystems and in the science and practice of forest entomology. The major emphasis of the meeting will be moderated concurrent workshops dealing with topics that embrace the scope and bounds of forest entomology. The stake-holder community (participants in the workshop) will be asked to identify specific agenda topics. Each workshop will conclude with a group discussion of research, development and application needs within the specific topic area. At a final facilitated group session, participants will discuss the identified needs, within the context of several major topic areas, and identify critical issues to be addressed in the near future. The summary and conclusions, including the identification of the critical issues will be captured and published as a proceeding.

Progress 06/01/05 to 11/11/07

Outputs
Activities during this reporting period were directed to establishing a formal procedure for the planning and organization of the North American Forest Insect Work Conference (NAFIWC). This end was accomplished by participation in a formal conference (the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference [SFIWC]) and a planning meeting at the University of Arkansas.

Impacts
A standing committee was established at both the Western Forest Insect Work Conference (WFIWC) and the Southern Forest Insect Committee. A program chair and advisory committee were established in both conferences and plans have been initiated for the next iteration of the NAFIWC, which will be held in Montreal, Canada in 2011. This formalization of the planning and organization of the NAFIWC will assure that the conclave for the forest entomology community will be perpetuated in the future.

Publications

• Hain, F. P., R. N. Coulson, K. D. Klepzig, and J. Rhea. 2007 (Eds.). Metamorphosis, Forces for Change in Forests. Proceedings, North American Forest Insect Work Conference. Asheville, N.C. May 22-26.

Progress 06/01/06 to 05/31/07

Outputs
Activities this reporting period consisted of preparation and distribution of the Proceedings of the Critical Issues of the North American Forest Insect Work Conference held in May 2006 in Asheville, North Carolina. A CD was produced and mailed to the 250 attendees. Several copies of the proceedings were provided to Dr. H. J. Meyer, National Program Leader for Plant and Animal Systems, USDA CSREES, Washington, DC. In addition, discussions of the conclusions of the Critical Issues were continued with the forestry community and future planning sessions were held: 1. North Central Forest Pest Workshop, Pellston, MI. 2. Editorial discussions, Asheville, NC. 3. Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN 4. Western Forest Insect Workshop, Boise, ID 5. US Chapter of the IALE, Tucson, AZ 6. Developed procedures for planning and a protocol for publishing and met with the chairman of the next NAFIWC.

Impacts
An important part of the 2006 NAFIWC was the formulation of Critical Issues--priority needs for research (acquisition of new knowledge), development (integration and interpretation of existing knowledge), application (use of knowledge for planning, problem solving, and decision support)and education(transfer of knowledge and its implications). The goal was to conclude the conference with a comprehensive definition of the current and emerging issues facing the forest entomology community. The critical issues and the summary statement are included in the Proceedings.

Publications

• Hain, F. P., R. N. Coulson, K. D. Klepzig, and J. Rhea, (Technical Editors). 2006. Proceeding of the Critical Issues of the North American Forest Insect Work Conference, May 22 - 26, 2006, Asheville, North Carolina. A CD. Posted at www.kelab.tamu.edu

Progress 06/01/05 to 05/31/06

Outputs
The North American Forest Insect Work Conference was held May 22-26 in Asheville, NC. The conference was sponsored by the USDA CSREES and Forest Service and supported by 350 registered participants from throughout North America. The program consisted of seven subject tracks. Invasive Insects, Management and Silviculture, Scale and Interactions, Change, Direct Tactics in Forest Insect Management, Biodiversity/Natural Heritage, and Plenary Addresses. Each subject track consisted of several individual workshops (28 in total). Participants in each workshop and plenary address defined the critical issues associated with their specific presentation. Critical issues were summarized by each track. A Proceedings for the conference is currently being prepared and will be distributed to registered participants. The full program for the conference can be viewed at http://kelab.tamu.edu/nafiwc06/.

Impacts
The expected impact is to promote a North America-wide information exchange within the forest entomology community and to identify the critical issues facing this enterprise in the near future. The outcome will be a proceedings including a definition of the critical issues facing the forest entomology community.

Publications

• No publications reported this period