Global Insights on Insecticide Use in Forest Systems: Current Use, Impacts and Perspectives in a Changing World

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The perception of forests has evolved from mere timber sources to multifunctional ecosystems that support biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services. Nevertheless, insecticides remain crucial in many forestry systems facing intensifying insect outbreaks and invasions. This review examines recent literature on insecticide use in forestry worldwide, aiming to identify major use patterns, environmental impacts, and emerging alternatives to foster sustainable pest management.

Recent Findings

The need for alternatives to chemical control is globally recognized, driven by environmental impacts and increasingly strict regulatory frameworks. Recent studies using next-generation sequencing suggest that insecticides can have complex, indirect effects on animal community structures, underscoring the importance of in situ community-wide assessments. Bioinsecticides have been extensively tested, but their effectiveness is strongly dependent on environmental conditions. Advances in functional genomics, nanomaterials, and application technologies suggest that direct control tactics compatible with conservation goals may become achievable.

Summary

Four major use patterns were identified: (1) aerial applications against defoliators; (2) tree-level prophylactic applications against endophagous insects; (3) toxic baits against eusocial pests; and (4) seedling protection in nurseries and reforestation sites. Although insecticide use is influenced by management intensity, integrated pest management (IPM) is widely implemented across forestry systems. Insecticides are generally used sparingly but still play a critical role as last-resort suppression tactics against severe outbreaks. This complicates the search for alternatives, as reduced-risk compounds often lack the efficacy needed for this niche. The scope of ecological impact assessments vary, focusing on natural enemies in intensive systems, and increasingly including wider communities in multifunctional forests. There is a pressing need for protocols that assess both economic and ecological trade-offs at the community level to integrate future technologies, such as molecular control and nanoinsecticides, into IPM strategies.