Introduction

Abstract

By providing multiple economic goods and ecosystem services, Latin American forests play a key role in the environmental, social, and economic welfare of our countries. From the tropical forests of Central America to the Mediterranean and temperate vegetation of the Southern Cone, these forests face a myriad of phytosanitary problems that negatively impact on both conservation efforts and the forest industry. In this book, we have collected the perspectives of several Latin American researchers on pest and disease management. Each chapter provides modern views of the status and management alternatives to issues as serious as the impact of introduced exotic insects and diseases on Pinus and Eucalyptus plantations across the continent, or the emergence of novel insect outbreaks in tropical and temperate native forests associated with global warming. We hope this volume will be a useful guide for researchers and practitioners working on forest health in our region and around the world.