6.4 Protection from insects, diseases and rodents

Tree seedlings may also be harmed by insects, diseases and rodents.

Species liable to insects and diseases should be avoided. The best form of protection is to diversify the plantation, using various tree species. Treatment with pesticides or dipping of plants (i.e. planting seedlings treated with pesticides) may also be used. Some safety guidelines for the use of pesticides are given in section 9.5.

Rodents may cause damage to saplings, especially at high altitudes. The best form of protection from rodents is to keep the soil around the seedlings bare, i.e. well weeded. Rodents avoid bare soil where they are visible to birds of prey. Therefore, weeding limits the damage that can be done by rodents above the soil surface. Mechanical protection of the lower stem of young trees also works quite well. A suitable protection would be a split bamboo tube. The two halves of the tube are placed around the stem and tied together with a string. Protecting seedlings from rodents that damage the roots underground is more difficult. Traps, repellants or poisoning may be used.