HOMED at the IUFRO All-Division 7 2022 Conference

Last week, 6-9 September 2022, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations all Division 7 (Forest Health, Pathology and Entomology) 2022 conference took place in Lisbon, Portugal. Its planning began all the way back in 2019 at the last IUFRO congress in Brazil. With anticipation building up for 3 years, forest health researchers were more than happy to meet in person and discuss their latest research. Among them, of course, were many HOMED members eager to share their outcomes so close to the project’s end in September 2022.

The conference had a rich and varied programme, spread over four days. On day one, five HOMED members moderated sessions and eight partners presented their forest health research. Some of the discussed topics were:

  • Global change impacts on forest insects

  • Pest management

  • Invasive forest pests and pathogens

  • Trends in tree mortality

Day 2 was dedicated to topics like Research progress on ash dieback and emerald ash borer and Forest pathology and entomology, with several sessions moderated by HOMED partners, such as Eckehard Brockerhoff (WSL), Alberto Santini (CNR) and Simone Prospero (WSL).

Additionally, a number of HOMED-involved research was presented on:

  • Ash dieback

  • Increased plant protection 

  • Sentinel plantings

  • LAMP assays for early detection

  • Hymenoscyphus fraxineus & H. albidus genomes

  • Improved biological control

  • New research approaches

M. Dvořák from the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, also presented his work on the Vertical spread of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus propagules. Watch the HOMED tutorial video to learn how to utilise the spore trap Milon used in his study here.

Finally, the day ended with a beautiful field trip to Arrábida - a natural park near the sea with characteristic Mediterranean vegetation.

Day 3 of the IUFRO 2022 conference was a busy but exciting one! Seven sessions were moderated by HOMED partners and twelve members presented their research results on a variety of topics, such as 1) invasive forest pests and pathogens, 2) biological control of forest pests, 3) bark and ambrosia beetles and 4) collaboration between entomologists and pathologists. 

During the session on biological control, Lukas Seehausen (CABI) discussed the Opportunities and constraints of biocontrol in forest ecosystems and the Criteria for selecting natural enemies for classical biological control. Read more on this topic in HOMED’s Policy Brief on classical biological control here. Additionally, Simone Prospero elaborated on Biological control of emerging forest diseases. Find out more in HOMED’s policy brief on biological control here.

The third day ended with a call for forest pathologists and entomologists to unite. HOMED’s coordinator Hervé Jactel (INRAE) delivered an inspiring talk on "Why entomologists & pathologists should and can join forces to control invasive forest pests and pathogens". The potential benefits of such a joint effort are further described in HOMED’s Policy Brief here. 

The session also highlighted some results of innovative collaborations that improve our understanding and management of forest pest invasions - among them the HOMED project, presented by Duccio Migliorini (CNR).

IUFRO’s last day started with a session on Tree health in urban forests co-moderated by HOMED’s coordinator Hervé Jactel. During the session, a number of HOMED-funded studies were presented, such as: 

  • Modelling the spread of Trioza erytreae according to the landscape in both urban and peri-urban environments using trees as agents for an Agent-based model - presented by Pedro Nunes (ISA)

  • Tree density and diversity control the risk of exotic pest damage in urban forests - presented by Hervé Jactel on behalf of Alex Stemmelen (INRAE).

More HOMED research was presented during a session on Invasive forest pests and pathogens, moderated by Eckehard Brockerhoff, for example, on the Early detection of exotic xylophagous species using generic lures at potential ports-of-entry in Europe (by Alain Roques from INRAE). Watch HOMED’s tutorial video on the detection of tree pests in ports-of-entry here.

In addition to all the inspiring presentations by HOMED partners, the project also had a shared stand at the conference, together with Pensoft Publishers, where attendees could learn more about the project’s results, watch the HOMED tutorial videos and get their own Policy Briefs, Legacy Brochure and HOMED stickers.

We are thrilled to have participated in this important international conference – now, off to HOMED’s Final meeting! Stay tuned for updates from the meeting on Twitter - #HOMEDfinal.