Forest health surveillance in South Australia

South Australia has about 124000 ha of softwood (Pinus radiata) and 48 000 ha of hardwood (Eucalyptus globulus) in plantations. Forest health surveillance is an important part of risk management in these plantations. Until recently the only formal forest health Surveillance conducted in the state was Surveillance for Sirex noctilio as part of the National Sirex Control program. The South Australian Forestry Corporation (ForestrySA) now conducts formal Surveys of its P radiata plantations annually or more frequently if necessary. Surveillance in P. radiata plantations consists of aerial and drive-through Surveillance With follow-up on-ground inspection to identify and confirm diagnosis of problems. Information is entered in a database and reports on the general health of the forest, as well as on specific forest health issues, are given to forest managers, together with recommendations for remedial action if necessary. Forest health Surveillance in eucalypt plantations has tended to be reactive rather than proactive, but now operations staff monitor for insect pests, diseases and nutritional disorders as part of everyday management. Currently there is no formal Surveillance of native vegetation in South Australia and there is no harvesting of timber from native forests. Surveillance Of urban trees is conducted on an ad hoe basis in response to an incursion of a forest pest or disease. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PI RSA) uses a variety of methods in urban forest health Surveillance, depending on the pest or disease being targeted. In South Australia a hazard site Surveillance program was established in 2006-2007 as part of the National Plant Health Surveillance Framework. This involves surveillance for exotic pests and diseases in and around targeted hazard sites in urban areas adjacent to key entry points, and is based on risk and pathway analysis. Forest health surveillance provides a valuable base for management of pests, diseases and nutritional disorders, and for strategic research on the impacts of forest health problems on timber production.