The management of the control against forest pests in protected areas: Kackar Mountains National Park

Pests are among the most important dangers threatening the existence and continuity of forests. Harmful insects cause great destruction in forests. The forestry organization performs chemical, mechanical, biotechnical, and biological control activities against pests and diseases in forests. Harmful insects are not as prominent and even ignored as forest fires in public sphere because their activities and damages do not appear suddenly, but the destruction caused by pests is understood after it becomes an epidemic. For this reason, it is vital to be informed about threats such as fires, insect epidemics, etc. that occur in forest areas as soon as possible and to fight with the support of the public. Kackar National Park is one of the areas with the richest ecotourism potential in Turkey. Forest pests are spread around the national park, causing serious damage to the forest and areas of cultural importance. Detection of forest pests that threaten the national park forests, which are the national treasure, is of critical importance for the sustainability of the area. There is a need to increase the knowledge and awareness levels of all segments of society in this respect. It was determined that only half of people who live in rural areas of Kackar Mountain National Park, which is located in the Eastern Black Sea Region, where intense insect damage was experienced for more than 60 years, have knowledge about forest pests. Also, 285.000 Rhizophagus grandis were reproduced and placed in forest trees in the scope of combating forest pests in the area, and 310 pheromone traps were placed in forest areas to determine the insect population and the management of the control. The 2.769.521 m3Picea orientalis that was damaged was removed from the area.