Applicant Presentation - Eucalyptus tortoise beetle biocontrol agent - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Applicant Presentation - Eucalyptus tortoise beetle biocontrol agent

22 January 2019

What is the benefit to NZ of introducing this parasitoid?

• Biocontrol is environmentally sustainable method of pest control
• Previous biocontrol agents have controlled the second generation of

the pest Eucalyptus tortoise beetle

• Eadya daenerys will reduce larval survival in first generation
• Host specific in Australia to some Paropsis and Paropsisterna

beetles (known as “paropsines”)

• Eadya daenerys could prevent $7.2 million in losses per year from

damage to numerous susceptible Symphyomyrtus species

• Sustainable control will reduce spray inputs, better for environment
• Economic benefits outweigh any potential risks to the environment,

testing reveals a very low risk to any non-target beetles

Scion is the applicant on behalf of Eucalyptus growers in New Zealand

• Benefit to New Zealand
• Grant Wilcock (VP Sales and Marketing Paper, Oji Fibre

Solutions NZ Ltd) – What is so special about eucalypt fibre?

• Toni Withers (Senior Entomologist, Forest Protection, Scion) –

Cost to NZ if Paropsis charybdis is not controlled

• Robert Radics (Value Chain Optimisation, Scion) – How we

valued eucalypts to show benefits?

• Risk to the environment
• Toni Withers– What did the host testing tell us about risk of this

new organism?

• Carl Wardhaugh (Entomologist, Forest Protection, Scion) – Are

there any native beetles closely related to Paropsis charybdis in NZ that could be at risk?

Benefits of Eucalyptus to New Zealand

• As well as superior pulp qualities
• Eucalyptus grow to become of the hardest and most durable wood

poles in the world, not requiring chemical treatment

• Power poles, cross-arms, bridges, wharfs, vineyard posts
• Beautiful grains of timber for flooring, decking and other uses such

as production of Laminated Veneer board (LVL)

• Winter flowering food resource for bees
• Shade, shelter
• Firewood
• Bird habitat

• Eucalyptus a small industry

c.f. radiata pine, but diversified forest estate = resilient to natures challenges and border biosecurity threats

• Eucalypts complement

replanting land with native species

• Superior nutrient recycling
• Symphyomyrtus sub-genus
• most durable timbers
• cold climate tolerant
• est. 15,300 hectares

planted

• Monocalyptus sub-genus

much slower growing

Both types are being developed by the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative, see Paul Millen’s submission. Aim plant 100,000 ha by 2030

• Expensive aerial applications of

insecticides cost between $160 - $340 per ha. per spray

• Negative effects on the environment
• Whole industry current cost is $1 - 2

million per annum for spraying

• Yield loss between $4,800 and $9,700

per hectare per year if don’t spray

• Repeatedly defoliated trees stop growing

completely

• Plantations worth $402-503 million are at

risk

• Costs will increase if industry loses the

proven current chemical control option (alpha cypermethrin)

Risk to industry and environment from insect attack

Healthy E. nitens (Shining Gum)

Scion estimated Eucalyptus provide additional ecosystem services conservatively estimated at $11 million per year

Damaged

How did we value NZ eucalypts?

METHOD:

• Forest inventory plantation

data of eucalypts in NZ 2016

• Add additional 16% for

woodlots less than 40 ha

• Berrill et al. yield model

applied

• Net Present Value obtained by

applying values to age class data

• Weighted stumpage value

applied differentially for solid wood and pulp wood RESULTS:

• 23,182 ha. all eucalypt

plantations in NZ

• Plus est. 4,416 ha. in small

lots = 27, 598 ha

• Trunk volume calculated
• Younger plantations currently

dominate age classes

• Used $50/m3 for pulp wood,

and $101/m3 for solid wood

• Symphyomyrtus species 60-

75% of all plantations = NPV is $402-$503 million for eucalypts susceptible to Paropsis charybdis in NZ

Benefit of chemical applications

• Short rotation 15 years

Benefit of chemical applications to prevent yield loss

• Long rotation 40 years, $160/ha cost, larger than 40 ha plantations

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Benefit : cost ratio Avoided yield loss (%) Heavy Moderate Low Break even

Benefit: cost of managing P. charybdis

• Estimated by region and age

class the resistant: suscep. ratio of plantings

• Aerial spray applications

range in price due to cost effectiveness of spraying larger plantations

• Estimate 12,300 ha are in

species resistant to the pest, but 15,300 ha are susceptible species (Symphyomyrtus)

• Economic modelling shows the

cost of spraying the pest in small wood lots or when damage is only low is unjustifed

Economic benefit of Paropsis charybdis control by the parasitoid Eadya

• Effective biocontrol will reduce damage from “heavy” damage down

to “light damage”

• This reduces yield loss from 20% volume loss to less than 10%

(Elek & Baker 2017)

• This improvement provides an average Net Present Value of $1,245

per ha over a long rotation

• For the 15,300 ha of susceptible species in New Zealand the Net

Present Value of this effective biocontrol instead of chemical control is $17.4 - $21.8 million

Benefit to NZ of introducing the parasitoid Eadya daenerys

• This parasitoid once established will reduce damage from “heavy” to

“light”

• Reduce spray applications
• Good for environmental sustainability
• Increased cost savings
• Increase acceptability & “social license to operate” of these

renewable plantations for fibre production

• Reduced damage severity of susceptible eucalypt species
• Increase growth rates
• Shorter rotation times
• Increased wood volumes/ higher yield
• Increased profitability
• Increased confidence to invest in diversified plantings