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Tropics Under Threat: The Impact of Climate Change on Forest Pests in Papua New Guinea
Explore how rising temperatures and shifting climates are fueling pest surges in Papua New Guinea's forests. Discover innovative strategies from local knowledge and modern science to protect our vital ecosystems.
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*Poster needs to be A3 with bright tropical forest backdrop Poster Title: "Climate and the Climb: How Warming Drives Forest Pest Surges in Papua New Guinea" SECTION 1: The Issue Heading: Warming Forests, Rising Threats Papua New Guinea’s forests are facing a growing threat from insect pests. As the climate warms, native and invasive species are thriving in new areas and reproducing more rapidly. Pests like the coffee berry borer and wood borers are moving to higher elevations, damaging forest health, crops, and biodiversity. Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns disrupt natural predator-prey balances, making outbreaks more frequent and severe. Visuals: Image of pest damage on trees or coffee plants Small infographic: “+1°C = ↑ Reproduction & Range Shift” SECTION 2: The Science Behind It Heading: Pest Ecology in a Changing Climate Many forest pests are ectothermic (cold-blooded), meaning their development and reproduction rates increase with temperature. Climate change also alters life cycles and disrupts synchronization with predators or parasitoids. These ecological shifts can cause pest populations to spike beyond natural limits. Visuals: Lifecycle diagram of a forest pest Timeline or bar graph: “Outbreak frequency over decades” Predator-prey balance sketch SECTION 3: The Solution Heading: Resilient Forests Through Smart Ecology We can manage forest pests with climate-adapted strategies: Early Warning Systems: Monitoring insect populations using climate data. Biological Control: Supporting native predators and parasitoids. Agroforestry: Mixing tree species to reduce pest vulnerability. Community Knowledge: Indigenous forest stewards have observed and responded to pest cycles for generations. Combining modern science with local knowledge helps forests stay resilient in a warming world. Visuals: Flowchart: Pest monitoring → Biocontrol → Healthy Forest Diagram of a diverse agroforestry plot Local voice quote or icon (e.g. “Traditional knowledge + climate science = resilience”) SECTION 4: Sources & References (Tuck this in a corner in small text. Doesn’t count toward word limit.) FAO (2023). Climate change and forest pests in the Pacific. PNG Forest Research Institute reports. IPCC AR6 Working Group II (2022).
