IMPORTATION OF UNPROCESSED LOGS INTO NORTH-AMERICA - A REVIEW OF PESTMITIGATION PROCEDURES AND THEIR EFFICACY

The effects of reduced harvests in North America can be minimized by i mporting timber, but pests on imported logs may present a significant threat to native forests. The development of effective mitigation proc edures for imported logs will play a critical role in forest protectio n. This report reviews the efficacy of various mitigation procedures ( e.g., heat, fumigation, and irradiation) in relation to controlling pe sts established deep in the wood. Except for heating, existing data on the mitigation procedures are inadequate to support their use to elim inate pests established beyond the surface of imported logs. Research needs for mitigating the risks of log imports are provided.