Forest health or forest pest management: comparisons among three protected ecosystems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v16i90.1543Keywords:
ecosystems, true firs, insects, mangroves, pests, pines.Abstract
The concept of forest health is associated with an anthropocentric view of agronomic origin, focused on pest control. In contrast, the concept of ecosystem health is closely tied to ecological functionality, in which herbivorous insects play a crucial role in key processes such as organic matter recycling and natural succession. From this perspective, the use of the term “pest” is inappropriate for describing ecological dynamics in unmanaged ecosystems. The application of both approaches, forest health and sanitation, is analyzed through the review and comparison of three documented case studies in protected ecosystems in Mexico: (I) The phytosanitary contingency caused by ambrosial beetles in the mangroves of Atasta, Campeche; (II) The change of strategy against bark strippers in Nevado de Colima National Park, and (III) Mortality processes in Abies religiosa forests in the Central region of the country. These cases represent ecosystems with different compositions, dynamics, and phytosanitary management trajectories. The objective was to examine the implementation of both approaches in real scenarios and identify the management decisions taken and their consequences within their respective ecological and regulatory frameworks. This review provides a comparative basis for analyzing the practical and ecological implications of forest health and sanitation approaches, especially in areas where conservation and ecosystem functionality are priorities. It is a critical reflection on the contextualized use of both concepts, reinforcing their theoretical value and applicability in forest management.
Downloads
References
Agraz Hernández, C. M., Osti Sáenz, J., Chan Keb, C., Arriaga Martínez, V., Acosta Velázquez, J., Castillo Domínguez, S., Gómez Ramírez, D., Reyes Castellanos, R., Conde Medina, P., y Martínez Kumul, J. (2015). Grado de conservación del ecosistema de mangle en la Laguna de Términos, Campeche. Propuesta de políticas ambientales y acciones de restauración. En J. Ramos Miranda y G. J. Villalobos Zapata (eds.), Aspectos socioambientales de la región la Laguna de Términos (1ra edición, pp. 117-132). Universidad Autónoma de Campeche. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337198582_Grado_de_conservacion_del_ecosistema_de_mangle_en_la_laguna_de_Terminos_Campeche_Propuesta_de_politicas_ambientales_y_acciones_de_restauracion
Agraz Hernández, C. M., Chan Keb, C. A., Osti Sáenz, J., Reyes Castellanos, J. E., Gregorio Cortés, A., Chávez Barrera, J., Manzanilla, H., Lara-Flores, M., García-Chavarría, M., Acopa-Castro, S. M., Macías Samano, J. E., y Niño Domínguez, A. (2016). Estudio de diagnóstico para la atención a la contingencia fitosanitaria en el ecosistema de manglar en la localidad de San Antonio Cárdenas, del municipio de Carmen (Informe final). Centro de Estudios Geomáticos Ambientales y Marinos S. A. de C. V. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21484.27521
Agraz-Hernández, C. M., Chan-Keb, C. A., Muñiz-Salazar, R., Pérez-Balan, R. A., Posada Vanegas, G., Manzanilla, H. G., Osti-Sáenz, J., & del Río Rodríguez, R. (2022). Pore water chemical variability and its effect on phenological production in three mangrove species under drought conditions in Southeastern Mexico. Diversity, 14(8), 668. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080668 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080668
Alfaro, R. I., van Akker, L., & Hawkes, B. (2015, October). Characteristics of forest legacies following two mountain pine beetle outbreaks in British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 45(10), 1387-1396. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2015-0042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2015-0042
Arriola-Padilla, V. J., Domínguez-Vieyra, R., Pérez-Miranda, R., y Trejo-Ramírez, O. (2020). Legislación y normatividad para el control de plagas en áreas naturales protegidas en México: reto para la conservación de los ecosistemas. Áreas Naturales Protegidas Scripta, 6(2), 51-70. https://doi.org/10.18242/anpscripta.2020.06.0602.0004
Billings, R. F. (2011). Mechanical control of Southern pine beetle infestations. In R. N. Coulson & K. D. Klepzig (Eds.), Southern pine beetle II (pp. 399-413). United States Department of Agriculture. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/39089
Cibrián Tovar, D. (2021). Escenarios de manejo forestal. En D. Cibrián Tovar (Ed.), Fundamentos para el Manejo Integrado de Plagas Forestales MIPF (pp. 29-30). Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. https://sivicoff.cnf.gob.mx/ContenidoPublico/09%20Manuales%20t%C3%A9cnicos/Libro_Manejo%20Integrado%20de%20Plagas_MIP.pdf
Cibrián Tovar, D., y Macías Sámano, J. E. (2021). Marco conceptual y desarrollo del manejo integrado de plagas forestales (MIPF). En D. Cibrián Tovar (Ed.), Fundamentos para el Manejo Integrado de Plagas Forestales MIPF (pp. 3-12). Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. https://sivicoff.cnf.gob.mx/ContenidoPublico/09%20Manuales%20t%C3%A9cnicos/Libro_Manejo%20Integrado%20de%20Plagas_MIP.pdf
Ciesla, W. M., & Macías-Sámano, J. E. (1987). Desierto de los Liones: A forest in crisis. American Forest, 93, 11–12. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7153151
Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas. (2006). Programa de conservación y manejo Parque Nacional Volcán Nevado de Colima México (1ra ed.). Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas. https://www.conanp.gob.mx/que_hacemos/pdf/programas_manejo/libro_colima.pdf
Comisión Nacional Forestal. (2015). Manual para la identificación, manejo y monitoreo de insectos descortezadores del pino. Guía práctica para la identificación y manejo de los descortezadores del pino (1ra ed.) [Libro blanco]. Comisión Nacional Forestal. https://sivicoff.cnf.gob.mx/ContenidoPublico/09%20Manuales%20t%C3%A9cnicos/Manual%20identificacion%20descortezadores%20del%20pino.pdf
Comisión Nacional Forestal. (2022). Programa operativo estatal de sanidad forestal 2022 del estado de Campeche. Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. https://sivicoff.cnf.gob.mx/ContenidoPublico/02%20Informes%20de%20acciones%20operativas/DiagnosticosEstatales/2022/Campeche.pdf
Comisión Nacional forestal. (7 de abril de 2025). CONAFOR atiende plaga de descortezadores en Hidalgo [Comunicado de prensa]. https://www.gob.mx/conafor/prensa/conafor-atiende-plaga-de-descortezadores-en-hidalgo
Folke, C., Carpenter, S., Walker, B., Scheffer, M., Elmqvist, T., Gunderson, L., & Holling, C. S. (2004). Regime shifts, resilience, and biodiversity in ecosystem management. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 35, 557–581. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.35.021103.105711 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.35.021103.105711
Franceschi, V. R., Krokene, P., Christiansen, E., & Krekling, T. (2005). Anatomical and chemical defenses of conifer bark against bark beetles and other pests. New Phytologist, 167(2), 353-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01436.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01436.x
Furniss, M. M., & Johnson, J. B. (2002). Field guide to the bark beetles of Idaho and adjacent regions. University of Idaho. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fwres/items/fwres201.html
Garduño-Bernal, N. (2011). Diagnóstico fitosanitario forestal Reserva de la Biósfera Mariposa Monarca en el Estado de México (Informe técnico). Gobierno del Estado de México. http://transparencia.edomex.gob. mx/sma/informacion/publicaciones/ARCHIVO20A18.pdf (fecha de acceso: 27 de febrero de 2011).
Gómez-Pineda, E., Hammond, W. M., Trejo-Ramírez, O., Gil-Fernández, M., Allen, C. D., Blanco-García, A., & Sáenz-Romero, C. (2022). Drought years promote bark beetle outbreaks in Mexican forests of Abies religiosa and Pinus pseudostrobus. Forest Ecology and Management, 505, Article 119944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119944 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119944
González-Medina, R. E., Mendoza-Briseño, M., y Alvarado-Rosales, D. (2010, invierno). Exposición a ozono en relación a vitalidad en un bosque de oyamel (Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham). Madera y Bosques, 16(4), 7-19. https://doi.org/10.21829/myb.2010.1641157 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21829/myb.2010.1641157
Guldin, J. M. (2011). Silvicultural considerations in managing southern pines stands in the context of southern pine beetle. In R. N. Coulson & K. D. Klepzig (eds.), Southern pine beetle II (pp. 317-352). United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs140/gtr_srs140.pdf
Hagge, J., Leibl, F., Müller, J., Plechinger, M., Soutinho, J. G., & Thorn, S. (2019). Reconciling pest control, nature conservation, and recreation in coniferous forests. Conservation Letters, 12(2), Article e12615. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12615 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12615
Harmon, M. E., & Bell, D. M. (2020). Mortality in forested ecosystems: suggested conceptual advances. Forests, 11(5), 572. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050572 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050572
Hernández-Álvarez, A. G., Reyes-Ortiz, J. L., Villanueva-Díaz, J., & Sánchez-González, A. (2021). Variación en la estructura del bosque de Abies religiosa (Pinaceae), en diferentes condiciones de manejo y disturbio. Acta Botánica Mexicana, 128, Artículo e1752. https://doi.org/10.21829/abm128.2021.1752 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21829/abm128.2021.1752
Jones, G. M., Reid, D., Zulla, C., Williams, J., Hedwall, S., & Kirby, R. (2025). Mexican spotted owls use forest mosaics affected by timber harvest, insects, and wildfire. The Southwestern Naturalist, 69(2), 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-69.2.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-69.2.3
Kolb, T. E., Wagner, M. R., & Covington, W. W. (1995). Forest health from different perspectives. In L. G. Eskew (Comp.), Forest health through silviculture: Proceedings of the 1995 National Silviculture Workshop (pp. 5-13). United States Department of Agriculture. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/23480
Lindenmayer, D., Zylstra, P., Hanson, C. T., Six, D., & DellaSala, D. A. (2025). When active management of high conservation value forests may erode biodiversity and damage ecosystems. Biological Conservation, 305, Article 111071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111071 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111071
Macías-Sámano, J. E., Borden, J. H., Gries, R., Pierce Jr., H. D., Gries, G., & King, G. G. S. (1998a). Primary attraction of the fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 24, 1049-1075. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022354503443 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022354503443
Macías-Sámano, J. E., Borden, J. H., Gries, R., Pierce Jr., H. D., & Gries, G. (1998b, December). Lack of evidence for pheromone-mediated secondary attraction in the fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 95, 117-125. https://journal.entsocbc.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/481
Macías-Sámano, J. E., & Borden, J. H. (2000). Interactions between Scolytus ventralis and Pityokteines elegans (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Abies grandis. Environmental Entomology, 29(1), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-29.1.28 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-29.1.28
Macías-Sámano, J. E. (2001). Mediación semioquímica entre insectos descortezadores y árboles de coníferas. En A. L. Anaya, F. J. Espinosa-García & R. Cruz-Ortega (Eds.), Relaciones químicas entre organismos: Aspectos básicos y perspectivas de aplicación (pp. 459-503). Editorial Plaza y Valdez, S. A. de C. V. https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=8Gt7CoKx3W4C&printsec=frontcover&hl=es&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Manzo-Delgado, L., López-García, J., & Alcántara-Ayala, I. (2014). Role of forest conservation in lessening land degradation in a temperate region: The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Journal of Environmental Management, 138, 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.017
Pacheco-Aquino, G., & Duran, E. (2023). Tree canopy patterns in a temperate forest in Oaxaca, Mexico after bark beetle outbreaks: Implications for ecological resistance and resilience. Forest Ecology and Management, 542, Article 121099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121099 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121099
Raffa, K. F., Aukema, B., Bentz, B. J., Carroll, A., Erbilgin, N., Herms, D. A., Hicke, J. A., Hofstetter, R. W., Katovich, S., Lindgren, B. S., Logan, J., Mattson, W., Munson, A. S., Robison, D. J., Six, D. L., Tobin, P. C., Townsend, P. A., & Wallin, K. F. (2009). A Literal Use of “Forest Health” Safeguards against Misuse and Misapplication. Journal of Forestry, 107(5), 276-277. https://doi.org/10.1093/jof/107.5.276 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jof/107.5.276
Safranyik, L., & Wilson, B. (2006). The mountain pine beetle. A synthesis of biology, management, and impacts on lodgepole pine [White paper]. Canadian Forest Service. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/rncan-nrcan/Fo144-4-2006-eng.pdf
Sánchez-Ramos, L. E., Bravo Jiménez, A. M., y Ruíz García, A. A. (2022). Árboles muertos en pie, el descortezador y su dinámica con las aves. Patronato del Nevado de Colima y Cuencas Adyacentes, A. C. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21810.31686
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. (2018). NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-019-SEMARNAT-2017, Que establece los lineamientos técnicos para la prevención, combate y control de insectos descortezadores. Diario Oficial de la Federación. https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5516918&fecha=22/03/2018#gsc.tab=0
Teale, S. A., & Castello, J. D. (2011). The past as key to the future: a new perspective on forest health. In J. D. Castello & S. A. Teale (Eds.), Forest health. An integrated perspective (pp. 3-16). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511974977.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511974977.002
Trumbore, S., Brando, P., & Hartmann, H. (2015). Forest health and global change. Science, 349(6250), 814-818. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac6759 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac6759
Vázquez-Soto, J. (1988). Los tratamientos silvícolas del Desierto de los Leones: Sus fundamentos [Libro blanco]. Comisión Coordinadora para el Desarrollo Rural y Departamento del Distrito Federal.
Villalobos Echevarría, A. (2023). Análisis espaciotemporal de la alta montaña del Complejo Volcánico de Colima: Una mirada histórica a la alta montaña del Parque Nacional Nevado de Colima en los ojos de Landsat, 3000-4260 msnm [Reporte técnico]. Patronato del Nevado de Colima y Cuencas Adyacentes.
Villalobos, A. (2021). Soil geochemistry characterization and climate vulnerability projections to bark beetle-pine dynamics at “Volcán Nevado de Colima”, Mexico [Master Thesis research, Utrecht University]. Utrecht University Repository. https://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/1282
Wright, L. C., Berryman, A. A., & Wickman, B. E. (1984). Abundance of the fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis, and the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, following tree defoliation by the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata. The Canadian Entomologist, 116(3), 293-305. https://doi.org/10.4039/Ent116293-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4039/Ent116293-3
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors who publish in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales accept the following conditions:
In accordance with copyright laws, Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales recognizes and respects the authors’ moral right and ownership of property rights which will be transferred to the journal for dissemination in open access.
All the texts published by Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales –with no exception– are distributed under a Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), which allows third parties to use the publication as long as the work’s authorship and its first publication in this journal are mentioned
The author(s) can enter into independent and additional contractual agreements for the nonexclusive distribution of the version of the article published in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales (for example, include it into an institutional repository or publish it in a book) as long as it is clearly and explicitly indicated that the work was published for the first time in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales.
For all the above, the authors shall send the form of Letter-transfer of Property Rights for the first publication duly filled in and signed by the author(s). This form must be sent as a PDF file to: ciencia.forestal2@inifap.gob.mx
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International license.
