Termite Management and Control - Special Issue Dedicated in Memory of Dr. Kunio Tsunoda

Dear Colleagues,

Background and Purpose: Termites are serious pests in the Pacific Rim region. Furthermore, many countries within the region have high market potential for termite management technology. Therefore, it is essential that we gain a far better and more detailed understanding of the diversity of termite related problems within the region. Several institutions in the Pacific Rim region have been conducting some international collaborative projects on termites and their management. Examples of such successful collaboration are the CSIRO Termite Group and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (formerly called as Wood Research Institute) of Kyoto University with scientific institutions in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. It, therefore, appeared timely and meaningful to create a forum that would allow for wider collaboration through linking all relevant universities and institutions to accelerate the pace of mutual basic and applied research. Following discussions among CSIRO and RISH scientists on the statues: structure, aim and functions, membership, and fees for membership and conference, we proposed that one way forward is to organize a Pacific Rim Termite Research Group  (hereinafter referred to as “TRG”) to initiate purposeful collaborative research projects among scientists of neighboring countries. In addition, the TRG was expected to afford Asian scientists with opportunities to attend TRG conferences for reporting their research efforts internationally. The TRG launched at the 1st conference on 8-9 March 2004 in Penang, Malaysia. Annual conferences have been held since then.

Who should be involved?: Those in universities and other scientific research institutions who are interested in termite management, biology, physiology and ecology are encouraged to join. It is hoped that companies with a commercial interest in termite management as well as the relevant academic societies and industrial associations will support the activities of the TRG.

Dr. Kunio Tsunoda
Guest Editor