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7 Research Needs

Significant data gaps were identified during preparation of this chapter. The most important pest management research needed includes:

- Continued investigation and development of tree resistance to butternut canker, chestnut blight, baldcypress leafroller, and several other pests.

- Continued development or enhancement of environmentally acceptable pest prevention and suppression treatments for all pests identified.

- Continued development of biopesticides and biological controls and prescription of their use in prevention and suppression programs for gypsy moth, SPB, ARD, and chestnut blight.

- Evaluation of the effectiveness of existing control measures, including "cut and leave" treatments for southern pine beetle control and, silviculture for prevention of gypsy moth attack.

- Development of new hazard rating systems and validation of existing ones to identify areas that need treatment to prevent the occurrence of unacceptable losses to SPB, ARD, fusiform rust, and gypsy moth.

- Identification of potentially invasive species, along with the sites that are vulnerable to invasion.

- Development of methods for early detection of non-native invasive species