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 Both types are being developed by the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative, • est. 15,300 hectares see Paul Millen’s submission. planted Aim plant 100,000 ha by 2030  Monocalyptus sub-genus much slower growing

Risk to industry and environment from insect attack  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)

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? RESULTS:  23,182 ha. all eucalypt METHOD: plantations in NZ  Forest inventory plantation  Plus est. 4,416 ha. in small data of eucalypts in NZ 2016 lots = 27, 598 ha  Add additional 16% for  Trunk volume calculated woodlots less than 40 ha  Younger plantations currently  Berrill et al. yield model dominate age classes applied Used $50/m 3 for pulp wood,   Net Present Value obtained by and $101/m 3 for solid wood applying values to age class data  Symphyomyrtus species 60- 75% of all plantations =  Weighted stumpage value applied differentially for solid NPV is $402-$503 million for wood and pulp wood 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 4.0 3.0 Benefit : cost ratio 2.0 1.0 0.0 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Avoided yield loss (%) Heavy Moderate Low Break even

Benefit: cost of managing P. charybdis   Estimated by region and age Estimate 12,300 ha are in class the resistant: suscep. species resistant to the pest, but ratio of plantings 15,300 ha are susceptible species (Symphyomyrtus)  Aerial spray applications  range in price due to cost Economic modelling shows the effectiveness of spraying cost of spraying the pest in larger plantations 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