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Department of Agriculture

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  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Plant pests and diseases
  5. National action plans for priority plant pests
  6. National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Plant pests and diseases
    • National action plans
    • Banana phytoplasma diseases
    • Barley stripe rust (exotic strains)
    • Bees (Apis spp.) (exotic species)
    • Begomoviruses and vectors (exotic strains and species)
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    • Xylella and exotic vectors
      • International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa

National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber

 

Tree and timber pests include species of fungi, beetles, and nematodes. These can infest and kill forest, farm and street trees.

The National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber is a nationally agreed approach to: 

  • prevent the introduction of pests of trees and timber
  • prepare for a response if a pest is detected in Australia.

Success of the plan depends on cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders. These include: 

  • importers
  • shipping businesses
  • agricultural industries
  • all levels of government
  • non-government organisations 
  • individuals
  • experts and research agencies.
Image alt text

National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber

  • Download PDF - 1 MB
  • Download Word - 4 MB

What it covers

The National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber covers the following pests: 

Bursaphelenchus spp. and exotic sawyer beetle vectors

  • Bursaphelenchus cocophilus (Red ring disease (nematode))
  • Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Pine wilt nematode)
  • Monochamus spp. (vector) (Pine sawyer beetles)

Ceratocystis wilt

  • Ceratocystis spp., including Ceratocystis manginecans – an emerging pest

Dutch elm disease 

  • Ophiostoma novo-ulmi

Longhorn beetles (Anoplophora spp.) (exotic species)

  • Anoplophora chinensis (Black & white citrus longhorn)
  • Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian longhorn beetle)
  • Anoplophora malasiaca. (White-spotted longhorn beetle)

Myrtle (eucalyptus) rust (exotic strains)  

  • Austropuccinia psidii (exotic strains)

Pine pitch canker

  • Fusarium circinatum

Polyphagous shot hole borer

  • Euwallacea fornicates with Fusarium wilt (Fusarium euwallaceae) – an emerging pest

Sudden oak death (airborne Phytophthora spp.)

  •  Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden oak death)
  •  Phytophthora kernoviae (Phytophthora blight)

Pest and disease details

See more on each pest and disease.

A branch of a pine tree with dried brown pine needles.

Bursaphelenchus spp. and exotic sawyer beetle vectors

A tree with reddish-brown leaves stands out against a forest of dark green trees and a blue sky.

Dutch elm disease

A black beetle with white spots on its body and on its very long antennae, on a grey background.

Longhorn beetles (Anoplophora spp.) (exotic species)

Pale green leaves covered in bright yellow blotches.

Myrtle (eucalyptus) rust (exotic strains)

Decorative

Pine pitch canker

Decorative

Sudden oak death (airborne Phytophthora spp.)

Implementation schedule

Each national action plan has an implementation schedule for actions and projects.

The National Action Plan for Pests of Trees and Timber involves more than 40 projects and business-as-usual activities.

Pests of Trees and Timber Implementation Schedule 2024

  • Download PDF 374 KB
  • Download Word 129 KB

Action areas

The plan’s implementation schedule includes activities and projects from 4 action areas:

  • prevention
  • detection
  • response
  • cross-cutting (contains actions that fit into 2 or more of the first 3 areas).

Projects and activities

  • Examples of projects and activities include:
  • pest risk assessments
  • exploring further use of existing and emerging technology
  • improving emergency response resources and capability
  • strengthening of communications and engagement to increase awareness.

Activities are reviewed annually and progress is documented.

Man in orange vest with clipboard, inspecting trees in a plantation.

Program highlight

The Forest Watch Australia Program is a collaborative initiative coordinated by Plant Health Australia (PHA) to enhance biosecurity through risk-based forest pest surveillance. By improving early detection and response capabilities, the program helps protect Australia's forests, which are vital for the economy, environment, and biodiversity.

Commencing in 2022, Forest Watch Australia involves a wide range of stakeholders, including federal and state governments, the forest sector, and community and environment groups.

Supporting various activities, it includes:

  • Pest trapping and surveillance, targeting areas most likely to be affected by exotic pests.
  • Expert training for surveillance and diagnostics staff delivering the program.
  • Providing resources, training and workshops for stakeholders such as council staff or the public to participate in general surveillance.
  • An annual, nationwide TREEmendous Blitz citizen science period, during which community members report insects or symptoms they observe on trees.

Data collected through the program is being collated into Australia’s biosecurity surveillance data repository, AusPestCheck.

Get involved

Are you a researcher, industry member or interested person? If you’d like to get involved email us at plantpestpreparedness@aff.gov.au.

Subscribe

Keep up to date with our biosecurity news.

See more

  • Forests and timber: a field guide to exotic pests and diseases.
  • Importing timber and timber products – What’s inside?
  • Importing timber, wooden articles, bamboo and related products.
  • Importing timber, wooden articles, bamboo and related products.

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Page last updated: 04 April 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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