General Conclusions

Abstract

Knowledge and problems presented in chapters of the present volume clearly show that many similarities exist among the different Mediterranean forest systems regarding forest insect pests and diseases, and even ecosystem functioning. These similarities, however, correspond to two different situations. In some cases, the same species are present in different Mediterranean systems because they have been introduced and have found the same suitable conditions in separate locations for their establishment and invasion: same climate, same introduced host tree species, no competitors, and no natural enemies. A typical case is that of the Eucalyptus pests. In such situations, the system can be considered identical everywhere it has been introduced. One can also even suppose that this system may function by itself, with possibly very few interactions with the surrounding indigenous systems, especially when the introduced host tree and pest species largely differ from the indigenous ones. Thus, the scientific and practical approaches to addressing these situations can be relatively standardized. An interesting scientific subject in that context is precisely the relations between the functioning of the introduced system and that of the indigenous ones.