Diseases and pests of tree species intended for resilient forests of the future

Maple species (Acer spp.), silver fir (Abies alba), pine species (Pinus spp.) and oak species (Quercus spp.) are regarded as promising tree species for the future, because compared to other species, particularly Norway spruce (Picea abies), they are more adapted to drought stress and increasing temperatures. However, these species can also be affected by novel pathogens and pests, some of which, as shown in recent decades, have already been increasing in importance nowadays. This “Waldfonds” project aims at clarifying the causes of emerging diseases as well as increasing and deepen knowledge on the distribution, biology and ecology of selected pathogens on the mentioned tree species. The project is divided into the following five work packages (WP): • WP 1: Diseases of maple • WP 2: Damaging organisms on fir • WP 3: Needle diseases of pine species • WP 4: Oak decline • WP 5: Knowledge transfer The project is conducted jointly in close collaboration by the Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research of the University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).