The HOMED collection of policy briefs is expanding with yet another research-based recommendation!

The third HOMED policy brief is called "Tree Diversity and Forest Resistance to Insect Pests: Prospects for Forest Pest Management". It is based on the article by HOMED researchers Hervé Jactel, Xoaquín Moreira and Bastien Castagneyrol "Tree Diversity and Forest Resistance to Insect Pests: Patterns, Mechanisms and Prospects" which was published in the Annual Review of Entomology journal. The policy brief provides recommendations to policy makers for better biological control of invasive alien pests and diseases in European forests.

HOMED's Third policy brief

The article presents a detailed quantitative review based on more than 600 study cases. The study found that tree species diversity mainly reduced damage of specialist insect herbivores in mixed stands with phylogenetically distant tree species. Based on the observations of the paper, the policy brief provides the recommedation of increasing the diversity of tree species at the stand level to improve their natural resistance to insect pests.

The main objective of HOMED policy briefs is to provide quick and easy access to HOMED scientific insights, results, guidance and methods, designed and translated to answer the needs of policy makers and decision-makers. The HOMED policy briefs collection allows users to quickly access short and informative research-based analysis that outline the rationale for choosing a particular policy alternative for resolving a policy issue, or introduce a new science-based solution for improvement of existing matters.

Access the third HOMED policy brief here.