Forest pests impact our forest ecosystems by degrading the quality of wood, eliminating wildlife habitat and recreation/cultural value. Forest pests are generally associated with the import and export of wood packaging materials, shipping containers and the movement of firewood.

Forest pathogens have been on the rise given the increase in international trade and exchange of plant material. Forest pathogens can be caused by different organisms that affect the whole tree, causing defoliation, root decay and stem cankers that reduce the distribution of nutrients throughout the tree.