The Concept of Pesticide-Free Pest Control in the Crimean Forests

Abstract

Oak leafroller, gypsy and winter moths contribute to a pathological situation in the Crimean forests exposed to strong recreational activities, which add to the weakening of the forest ecosystems. In this respect we develop a concept of pesticide-free forest protection that presupposes an optimal balance between natural self-regulation opportunities and management, taking into account the long-term effects. The practical steps include preventive and current biological pest control, different in primary, secondary and tertiary niduses of pest outbreaks in the Crimean forests. All pest-control measures should be elaborated as a successive chain of steps joining in a common ecologically and economically sound system.  Preventive and current bio-control actions become easy and soft with increase in the forest’s ecosystem complexity and restoration of natural self-regulation.