black and white bed linen

Protecting our forests from exotic pests

"Overseas pests, global travel and trade have led to new pest establishments
that threaten Australia’s forests and urban trees."

Imagine…

  • losing our iconic gum trees or wattles

  • our city streets and parks hotter and without shade

  • having to import our timber unsustainably from overseas

Forest Watch Australia logo
Forest Watch Australia logo
native forest stand
native forest stand

Safeguarding our.....

Canberra urban forest, parliament in background
Canberra urban forest, parliament in background
A track through a eucalypt plantation forest
A track through a eucalypt plantation forest

Native Forests

Urban trees and canopy

Plantation Forests

Building capability for early detection of exotic pests

High-risk area identification

Trained, expert staff undertake trapping and visual surveillance around the high-risk areas, to maximise opportunities for early detection of exotic pests. Typically these areas are located around ports, airports, import facilities, botanic gardens and tourist attractions.

Capacity Building

Annual training workshops (also in high risk areas) engaging tree stakeholders such as local council staff, arborists, foresters and community groups aims to increase awareness of tree health pests and rates of pest reporting.

High-risk area surveillance

Information and data on trade, tourism, entry pathways and border pest detections is analysed to model and determine areas of highest risk for entry or establishment of exotic tree pests.

Forest Watch Australia supports surveillance and training activities to enable the early detection of exotic tree pests, specifically:

Expert Training

Stakeholder Training

Annual expert training workshops for staff delivering the program, aims to build and maintain expert-level knowledge in forest pest surveillance and diagnostics.

A close-up of a tree trunk showing signs of pest damage.
A close-up of a tree trunk showing signs of pest damage.
A lush green forest with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A lush green forest with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Map of Australia with circles representing levles of surveillance activity
Map of Australia with circles representing levles of surveillance activity

Program Benefits

  • Enhanced tree pest surveillance and diagnostic capacity and capability

  • Nationally coordinated training

  • National data sharing

  • Improved chances of early detection

  • Improved chances of exotic tree pest eradication

  • Avoidance of new pest management costs (if eradication succesful)

  • Protection of urban trees and urban canopy amenity and economic values

  • Protection of Australia’s $22B/year forest wood products sector

  • Protection of Australia's natural carbon storing capacity

  • Australia's biodiversity and ecosystem resilience maintained

green and brown mountain under white sky during daytime
green grass field with trees during daytime
A gazebo in the middle of a flower garden
green and brown mountain under white sky during daytime
green grass field with trees during daytime
A gazebo in the middle of a flower garden

Our Partners

© 2025. All rights reserved.

The Forest Watch Australia partners acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, land and waterways throughout Australia.