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

• est. 15,300 hectares

planted

Monocalyptus sub-genus

much slower growing

Both types are being developed by

the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative,

see Paul Millen’s submission.

Aim plant 100,000 ha by 2030

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)

Risk to industry and environment from insect attack

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?

METHOD:

Forest inventory plantation

data of eucalypts in NZ 2016

Add additional 16% for

woodlots less than 40 ha

Berrill et al. yield model

applied

Net Present Value obtained by

applying values to age class

data

Weighted stumpage value

applied differentially for solid

wood and pulp wood

RESULTS:

23,182 ha. all eucalypt

plantations in NZ

Plus est. 4,416 ha. in small

lots = 27, 598 ha

Trunk volume calculated

Younger plantations currently

dominate age classes

Used $50/m3 for pulp wood,

and $101/m3 for solid wood

Symphyomyrtus species 60-

75% of all plantations =

NPV is $402-$503 million for

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

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Benefit

: cost ra

tio

Avoided yield loss (%)

Heavy Moderate Low Break even

Benefit: cost of managing P. charybdis

Estimated by region and age

class the resistant: suscep.

ratio of plantings

Aerial spray applications

range in price due to cost

effectiveness of spraying

larger plantations

Estimate 12,300 ha are in

species resistant to the pest, but

15,300 ha are susceptible

species (Symphyomyrtus)

Economic modelling shows the

cost of spraying the pest in

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