While the role of chemical traits in mediating community dynamics seems relatively evident, the study of the effects of chemical information on the general attributes of communities and forest ecosystems as complex systems provides new opportunities for ecological synthesis and the generation of integrative hypotheses. Chemical ecological studies of plant – insect interactions provide support for this view. Specifically, when the chemical information landscape is altered through phenotypic or genotypic manipulations of one or multiple components in the interaction network, there are significant consequences for community dynamics. The most effective way to deal with forest pests is integrated pest management. Prevention may include proper tree, variety and site selection, natural regeneration, and planting and thinning practices that reduce pest populations and favour sustainable control by natural enemies. The incorporation of chemical ecological concepts and approaches provides opportunities to discover and manipulate the mechanisms that mediate complex ecological interactions, to reveal hidden patterns not obtainable using correlational studies, and to frame novel, testable hypotheses for how such interactions evolve. The chemical ecology approach leads not only to a deeper understanding of ecological principles, but provides us with tools to address the urgent ecological problems. For suppression, mechanical control, biological control through the use of natural enemies and biopesticides, or other sustainable control methods are preferred over synthetic pesticides. Just as chemical agents are important in shaping natural communities and ecosystems, they play crucial roles in the interactions occurring in human-managed systems such as agriculture and forestry.