Australia, Viet Nam collaborate to prevent invasive alien species

In the forest ecosystem, plant health depends on various factors, including pests and diseases, artificial organisms, and even soil microorganisms. Improving forest health means controlling all these factors.

To establish a biosafety network, the Project on Building an Effective Network for Forest Biosafety and Health Care in Southeast Asia (FST/2020/123), funded by ACIAR, led by the University of Sydney (Australia), was launched in 2022 across six Southeast Asian countries: Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In Viet Nam, the Forest Protection Research Center (FPRC) is the main implementing unit.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dao Ngoc Quang, Director of FPRC, the research team selected three high-risk areas for initial alien species invasion to deploy traps: specifically, a warehouse at Noi Bai Airport; a large wood storage yard near Dinh Vu Port (Hai Phong); and a forest area bordering the border at Na Hinh (Lang Son). The focus is on three main groups of species: Longhorn beetles; insects belonging to the bark beetle family; and ambrosia beetles, which are species that both damage wood and carry fungal diseases that weaken forest trees.

After deploying the traps and collecting the samples, the scientists began classification and identification. This is a pivotal step, because only by correctly identifying each species can they differentiate between native species and those that have newly invaded in recent years.

"For common species, identification based on morphological characteristics is quite fast. However, with unusual samples or those suspected of being alien, we sometimes have to perform microscopic dissection for confirmation. If a conclusion still cannot be reached, we are forced to use the DNA analysis method. Initial assessment indicates that several new species have appeared, but more time is needed for accurate identification.

In cases where prior data exists, we will cross-reference it with international studies to shorten the analysis time. The final outcome of the project is a complete catalog of collected samples, along with a preliminary assessment of newly introduced species and those at risk of becoming invasive alien species. For high-risk species, the team will continue to research their biological characteristics, damage level, and potential for spread, and at the same time, propose policy recommendations to management agencies," said Associate Professor Dr. Quang.

According to Project Officer Nguyen Manh Ha, Australia funded the entire sample collection system, while the lures and traps were all provided by the Project. The lure set, which includes alcohol, alpha-pinene derived from pine resin, and various synthetic lures, was shipped from Australia.

The project focuses on wood-boring and beetle insect groups - species that are easily introduced via the timber trade. The pheromone traps provided by the Project are low-cost but highly effective, especially in attracting beetles; some other species groups may also be attracted depending on their biological characteristics.

"Surveillance is carried out periodically every 7-10 days. After reception, samples are frozen to retain their original color and wing patterns, then completely dried before identification. The number of traps changes seasonally, with about 6-8 traps in the cold season and 16-24 traps during peak season, maintained at a minimum distance of 50m between traps to avoid scent interference. Each trap is replaced after 4-5 collection cycles (approximately 1-2 months) as dust reduces its lure effectiveness.

Large samples like longhorn beetles can be classified directly, while small beetle species must be observed under a microscope for morphological analysis. For difficult samples, the team will take photos and send them to Australian experts for identification support; in cases requiring deeper analysis, DNA will be isolated to determine the species and cross-reference catalogs to detect alien threats," he stated.

Over three years, the project has collected approximately 3,000 insect specimens, classified them into about 50 morphological groups, and identified around 40 species, including those that may be new species. Although trap deployment in the Lang Son border forest area only began last year, the number of samples collected there already accounts for nearly half of the total from all three surveillance sites, indicating that this is a "hotspot" for the risk of alien species invasion.

According to Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Gillian Bird, through the Project on Building an Effective Network for Forest Biosafety and Health Care in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese scientists have provided scientific evidence to help protect the economic value and health of planted forests from the threat of alien species invasion.

"We are delighted that the Project is contributing to establishing a regional forest biosafety network, where Vietnamese experts share research and support capacity building for colleagues in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia," the Ambassador shared.