Forest protection research
We conduct forest protection research to safeguard forest health and improve industry resilience.
Protection research focus areas
Our forest protection research addresses key industry challenges, including:
- reducing the impact of pests and diseases by maintaining healthy, sustainable forests that support better wood quality and wood products
- applying effective biosecurity practices to minimise the risk of introducing new, native, or exotic pests and diseases.
Protection research projects
We focus on the following targeted protection research projects:
Managing pests, diseases, and nutrition
Targeted laboratory and field studies of key pests and diseases aim to identify effective and sustainable ways to manage damaging insects and disease pathogens.
Our laboratories are equipped for discovering and developing insect-based chemical attractants to use in insect management tools. Our expertise in soils and plant nutrition supports plantation management for wood quality and sustainable tree health, and productivity.
Strengthening forest biosecurity
Working with Biosecurity Queensland, we develop systems for early detection, rapid response and surveillance, and collaborate internationally to provide over-the-horizon surveillance of emerging threats.
Improving pest and disease resistance
Forest health and tree improvement scientists collaborate to screen trees for pest and disease resistance to select superior germplasm for future forests.
Protection case studies
- Staying ahead of plantation pests: New surveillance strategies help reduce the risk of invasive pine pests reaching and damaging valuable pine plantations.
- Identifying Myrtle rust resistance: Forestry scientists test key commercial tree species to find varieties with natural resistance, guiding future tree breeding programs.