Objectives of the report
The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is an important
forest pest in Asia and now also in Portugal. A pest risk analysis conducted
by EPPO concludes that the risk for entry of PWN is high (EPPO 2009a, b).
An establishment in Sweden could result in economic losses for forestry and
also negatively affect biodiversity and recreational values (Rinman 2008).
According to the Commission Decision 2012/535/EU (European Commission
2012) all EU member states are required to adopt contingency plans to be
prepared for findings of the presence of PWN. In Sweden such a plan has been
developed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. In a previous report strategies
for detection and delimitation surveys of PWN were developed (Schroeder
2012). The objective of the present report was to further develop a strategy
for a delimitation survey for PWN. In the report it is assumed that if PWN is
established in Sweden it will be asymptomatic (i.e. that an establishment of
PWN in Sweden will not result in pine wilt disease) and that it will be detected
in the forest.