Georeference model of palms in central Italy: a useful technique for management of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus attacks

Abstract

We propose a method to survey and map the palm tree patrimony along the Tyrrhenian coast of Tuscany and in some inland cities. The procedures and instrumentation used in the surveys took account of the different situations and distribution patterns of these trees in the region, allowing their cartographic representation at the level of single trees and of variously distributed groups. The spatial representation of the palms was carried out with the density areas method (quadratic kernel function in ArcGIS 9.3), allowing expression of the magnitude of the density according to the scale of cartographic representation. These maps provide the competent authorities with a tool for optimization of prevention and control of the red palm weevil in order to hinder its diffusion in Tuscany.