Dogs detecting fungal diseases in forests - an early bird monitoring system

Along climate warming tree diseases like Annosus root-rot (P- and S-types) will spread northwards and endanger forest health in the north. New silvicultural methods of continuous-cover forestry will probably increase root-rot. The diagnosis of early root-rot symptoms before the pathogens invade host roots is essential for hindering rot damages. Especially continuous-cover forestry increases Annosus root-rot, and therefore, it is important to recognize rot-symptoms at early stage in Norway spruce-dominated stands, where the forest tree cover is preserved continuously for decades and the number of infections is abundant. Early rot diagnosis enables pinpointed rot-control and reduction of damage. Sense of smell of dogs can be used in early diagnosis of root-rot. The main aim of the project is to develop the sense of smell of dogs as a tool to recognize early symptoms of root-rot and resin-top disease. This is not enough but it is aimed to develop a general system for early disease monitoring to support silviculture. For this purpose an educational protocol is developed and piloted for dogs to monitor root-rot and resin-top disease. It is also aimed to get new information about the distribution of root-rot and resin-top disease.

Crowdsourcing of early diagnosis of root-rot and resin-top disease in forests will spread information about the method among public, which will lead to expansion of the method to co-operation with dog-trainers and private forest-owners and public forest organizations to search, localize and follow diseased trees. Expansion of smell-research will also bring experience of the developed method. The protocol will also enable possible use to monitor other rot diseases. In the future, the method might be used to monitor forest insects, alien plant species and utility plants. During the project we will identify companies that will continue to use and develop the method. Based on early smell protocol of dogs, companies can develop profitable business.