How are forests affected by insect and disease outbreaks?
Forests need to be managed so that the risks and impacts of unwanted disturbances are minimized, including wildfires, airborne pollution, storm felling, invasive species, pests, diseases, and insects. Disturbances and their impacts vary from place to place and even the definition of what constitutes disturbance events varies among countries. Forest disturbances can be devastating, but they have been severely underreported. Based on available data, this assessment focused on three kinds of disturbances: • Forest fires: Fire often gets out of control and destroys forest vegetation and biomass. Both uncontrolled agricultural expansion and recreational uses increase the risk of forest fires. • Insects and diseases: While insects and diseases are integral components of forests, outbreaks can have adverse effects on tree growth and survival, yield and quality of wood and non-wood forest products (NWFP), wildlife habitat, and the social value of forests. • Other disturbances (including wind,
