South-East Asia plays a key role in Australia’s tree and forest health. The region comprises our nearest neighbours with extensive tree and forest landscapes including significant timber plantation developments dominated by Acacia and Eucalyptus species. However, capacity and investment in tree and forest biosecurity in the region is still embryonic. Limitations in forest biosecurity readiness in the region poses a threat to both SE Asia and Australia. Ensuring the health of timber plantations is critical to managing the region’s tree and forest estate, as well as being of vital economic, social and ecological import. Building off an extensive history of investment in R&D in the health of timber plantations in SE Asia, we are implementing two ACIAR-funded sister projects that build capacity, support the development of improved practices and build a regional network for forest biosecurity in SE Asia.

Our two projects are focused on a number of activities that include improved surveillance at high-risk sites, advances in drone surveillance in plantations, climate modelling of changing risk profiles, training in diagnostics and ongoing plant breeding for resistance. This will enhance awareness of the importance of forest pests and diseases along with building greater recognition of biosecurity as a shared responsibility. As well as this technical capacity building, our work is developing a network that aims to feed into improved forest biosecurity policy. This work is occurring with a broad mix of government agencies, timber companies, research organisations and smallholders. Establishing an effective and sustainable regional forest biosecurity network will enable integration with existing agricultural biosecurity systems. Halfway through the project, we are seeing positive signs that new connections, capacity, and commitment are growing and are likely to be sustained into the future.