Identifying exotic pests and diseases

Australia’s timber and forestry industries have a new weapon in the fight against exotic pests and diseases - "Forests and Timber: a field guide to exotic pests and diseases", a book featuring photos and short descriptions of 25 exotic timber and forest pests and diseases that could devastate Australia’s native forests and amenity trees.

The book - a joint initiative by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia and the Standing Committee on Forestry - encourages wharf workers, container depot staff, forest workers and forest technical staff to take on the vital role of Australia’s ‘eyes and ears’ to help protect our environment from exotic timber and forest pests and diseases.

An incursion of Asian longhorn beetle last year in Chicago and New York continues to be a nightmare for US authorities, with an estimated $A200 billion a year spent to combat this pest.

"Forests and Timber: a field guide to exotic pests and diseases" aims to raise awareness and encourage those who work at Australia’s borders to report signs of exotic timber and forest pests such as Asian longhorn beetle, to prevent an incursion in Australia.

Forests and timber is also available on the AQIS web site at The Field Guide is now available on the AQIS web site at: www.aqis.gov.au

See also www.australia.org.nz

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