Invasive and Quarantine Pests Affecting Urban Trees and Forests

This lecture provides an overview of invasive and quarantine pests that pose significant threats to urban trees and forest ecosystems. It examines how these organisms are introduced and spread, the damage they cause to native tree species, and the ecological and economic consequences of their establishment. The session also covers current monitoring practices, early-detection methods, and management strategies aimed at preventing further introductions and limiting outbreaks.

Keywords: Invasive pests, Quarantine organisms, Urban trees, Forest health, Biosecurity

The Role of Drought in the Development of Forest Diseases

This lecture explores how drought stress influences the emergence, severity, and spread of forest diseases. It explains the physiological impacts of water scarcity on trees, how weakened hosts become more susceptible to pathogens, and how drought can enhance the aggressiveness or spread of certain fungi and pests. The session also highlights interactions between climate change, prolonged dry periods, and increased disease pressure on forest ecosystems, emphasizing the need for adaptive forest management strategies.

Keywords: Drought stress, Forest diseases, Tree physiology, Climate change, Pathogen susceptibility

Note: The original text is in French

Emerging Diseases of Forest Trees

This lecture introduces the major emerging diseases affecting forest trees and explores the biological, environmental, and human-driven factors behind their increasing occurrence. Students will learn about newly detected pathogens, changing pest dynamics, and the role of global trade and climate change in accelerating disease spread. The lecture also covers early detection, monitoring tools, and management strategies aimed at reducing risks and protecting forest health in a rapidly changing world.

Keywords: Emerging diseases, Forest pathology, Invasive pathogens, Climate change, Forest health

Note: The original text is in French

General Introduction: The Rise of Invasive Forest Pests and Pathogens

This lecture provides a general introduction to the rise of invasive forest pests and pathogens, exploring their global spread, ecological and economic impacts, and the factors driving their emergence. Students will learn about pathways of introduction, host susceptibility, and the challenges these organisms pose to forest health and management.

Keywords: Invasive species, Forest pests, Pathogens, Forest health, Ecological impact

Basics of Forest Damage Diagnostics and Consequences

This lecture introduces the fundamental principles of diagnosing forest damage caused by biotic and abiotic stressors. Students will learn how to recognize symptoms, identify causal agents, and differentiate between primary and secondary damage. The lecture also discusses the ecological and economic consequences of forest decline, including impacts on productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Emphasis is placed on systematic observation, field assessment, and informed decision-making to support effective forest health management.

Keywords: Forest health, Damage diagnostics, Biotic and abiotic stress, Forest decline, Ecosystem services

Pathways, Detection, and Management of Invasive Forest Pathogens

This lecture focuses on how invasive forest pathogens spread, how they are detected, and the strategies used to manage their impacts. Students will learn about key introduction pathways such as global plant trade, timber movement, and climate-driven range shifts. The lecture covers early detection tools, including field diagnostics, molecular methods, and surveillance networks. Management approaches—ranging from quarantine and eradication to containment and long-term ecosystem resilience—are discussed to highlight the importance of integrated forest health protection.

Keywords: Invasive pathogens, Forest health, Pathogen detection, Biosecurity, Management strategies

Plant Protection services and regulations

This lecture provides an overview of plant protection services and the regulatory frameworks that safeguard crops, forests, and natural ecosystems from pests and diseases. Students will learn about national and international plant health organizations, their responsibilities, and how regulations guide surveillance, quarantine, pest management, and emergency responses. Emphasis is placed on understanding how coordinated policies and professional services work together to maintain biosecurity and support sustainable plant health management.

Keywords: Plant protection, Biosecurity, Pest management, Phytosanitary regulations, Plant health services

Aims and tools for aerobiological monitoring

This lecture provides an overview of aerobiological monitoring, focusing on the detection and analysis of airborne biological particles such as pollen, spores, and pathogen propagules. Students will learn the main objectives of monitoring programs, including allergy forecasting, plant disease surveillance, and environmental research. The lecture also introduces commonly used sampling instruments, laboratory identification techniques, and data interpretation approaches. Emphasis is placed on how aerobiological monitoring supports public health, agriculture, and ecosystem management.

Keywords: Aerobiology, Airborne pathogens, Pollen monitoring, Plant disease surveillance, Sampling techniques

The potential of the metagenomics approach

This lecture introduces metagenomics as a powerful method for studying complex microbial communities directly from environmental samples. Students will learn how high-throughput DNA sequencing can reveal the diversity, functions, and interactions of organisms that are difficult or impossible to culture. The lecture highlights applications in plant health, forest pathology, ecosystem monitoring, and biosecurity. Emphasis is placed on how metagenomics improves early detection of emerging pests and pathogens and enhances our understanding of ecosystem processes.

Keywords: Metagenomics, Microbial diversity, High-throughput sequencing, Plant pathology, Biosecurity

Forest Pests Insects where and how to find them

This lecture focuses on identifying forest pest insects and understanding where they occur within different tree tissues and forest environments. Students will learn to recognize typical signs of insect presence—such as galleries, frass, exit holes, feeding damage, and canopy symptoms—and how these relate to insect life cycles and behavior. The lecture also covers field sampling techniques, survey strategies, and practical tools for detecting both native and invasive pests. Emphasis is placed on careful observation and systematic monitoring to support effective forest health management.

Keywords: Forest pests, Insect monitoring, Field sampling, Pest detection, Forest health