A Review on Innovative Approaches for Forest Pest Management in India
Sameer Daniel
College of Forestry, SHUATS, Prayagraj, India.
R VijayKumar *
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, GUNTUR, A.P, India.
Vidhya C.S.
Department of Food Packaging and Storage Technology, NIFTEM – Thanjavur, 613005, Tamil Nadu, India.
Rupali S. Parida
Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Prittam Das
Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Satya Narayan Satapathy
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Sangeeta Panigrahi
Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India.
Debashree Sarangi
CDP-MLIP, WOSCA, Keonjhar, Odisha, India.
Bhubanananda Adhikari
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Priyanka Bhowmik
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Chandan Kumar Panigrahi
*
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU, Bhubaneswar-751029, Odisha, India.
Anindita Roy
Department of Entomology, BCKV, West Bengal, India.
Tapasya Tiwari
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of agriculture and technology, Kanpur, Uttar Prades, India.
Bonu Rama Devi
Department of Agronomy, KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Jyoti Jhirwal
Department of Plant Pathology, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, India.
Rahul Choudhury
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHUATS, Prayagraj, India.
Nafisa Ekka
Wet Agriculture Farming, RIE, BBSR, India.
Anjali Verma
Department of Plant Pathology, BUAT, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India's forest ecosystems, though covering only 21.71% of the national geographical area, harbour immense biodiversity and ecological significance. The nation's varied forest types from tropical rainforests to dry alpine belts are vital ecological assets, yet increasingly threatened by biotic disturbances, especially insect pests. The paper aims to review innovative approaches for forest pest management in India. Unlike agriculture, where short crop cycles permit timely pest impact assessments, forest pest outbreaks often go unnoticed until substantial ecological and economic damage has occurred. The prolonged life cycles of both forest trees and associated insect pests, coupled with limited baseline data, hinder timely interventions. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers a holistic and sustainable solution, combining biological, cultural, and chemical strategies. However, the application of IPM in forestry remains underdeveloped due to challenges in monitoring, logistical limitations, and a lack of adaptive frameworks. The increasing necessity for integrated pest management systems which consider regional climate variability, forest biodiversity, and ecological sustainability into account has been highlighted by recent studies. This paper synthesises current pest management scenarios in Indian forestry, showcasing success stories from global and national contexts. It discusses the role of forest insect pests across tree developmental stages and explores their impact on natural forests, plantations, and non-timber forest products. Case studies include teak (Tectona grandis), sal (Shorea robusta), eucalyptus, and poplar, highlighting the practical integration of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), parasitoids like Trichogramma raoi, and botanical fumigants for seed pest control. Specific attention is given to emerging tools, indigenous biocontrol agents, and formulation advancements for EPNs adapted to Indian conditions. The findings underline the urgent need for localised, ecologically compatible IPM models, along with capacity-building initiatives to equip frontline forest managers. By advancing research and fostering region-specific guidelines, the adoption of IPM in forestry can contribute significantly to sustainable forest health management and biodiversity conservation. In conclusion, a critical factor in the broader adoption and success of IPM in forestry is the development of locality- and species-specific guidelines that are user-friendly and readily applicable by forest managers and field staff.
Keywords: Forest, biodiversity, ecological balance, integrated pest management, tropical evergreen forests