Forest health surveillance in Western Australia: a summary of major activities from 1997 to 2006

In Western Australia (WA), no formal forest health surveillance program is in place, but individual programs within the Department of Environment and Conservation undertake surveys to monitor major pathogens and pests associated with native jarrah and karri forest. Recently the Tuart Health Research Group and the Wandoo Recovery Group were established to undertake monitoring and to coordinate research into the cause Of Wart and wandoo decline. For blue gum plantations, Murdoch University has an extensive pathogen research program and private industry has an Integrated Pest Management program to undertake pest Surveillance. The Forest Products Commission carries out regular surveys for sirex wasp in pine plantations. Not all the results of surveillance and associated forest health research in WA are formally reported, but they are compiled and evaluated annually and presented in the Annual Pest and Disease Status Report for Australia and New Zealand by Research Working Group 7 (Forest Health).