Across Ethiopia, trees are central to everyday life. They heat homes, build shelters, feed families and livestock, and provide income for millions of smallholder farmers. In rural communities especially, forests are not a backdrop but a foundation;  sustaining livelihoods, strengthening local economies and supporting cultural and environmental wellbeing. More than 70 per cent of people across Sub-Saharan Africa depend on forests for their livelihoods, and in Ethiopia, forestry sits at the heart of social and economic development. From nurseries and planting to harvesting, charcoal production and transport, forestry work creates vital employment in rural areas. Species such as acacia, eucalyptus and moringa are central to this system.

But this lifeline is under increasing threat. 

In recent years, farmers have seen a troubling shift. Trees that once grew reliably now suffer widespread damage and death. In the Amhara region, acacia plantations are so badly affected that many farmers can no longer raise seedlings. Eucalyptus trees face increasing pressure from invasive insects that slow growth and reduce yields. Moringa, a highly nutritious food tree, is repeatedly stripped of its leaves by moth larvae, cutting off a vital source of food and income.

A major challenge is that the causes of this damage are often poorly understood. Farmers and local forestry officers frequently lack the information and tools needed to identify pests and diseases accurately or to manage them in ways that are effective, affordable and environmentally sustainable.

In December 2024, an exciting five-year project commenced in Ethiopia, bringing fresh hope for sustainable forestry and improved livelihoods in rural communities. This initiative focuses on managing pests and diseases that threaten vital tree crops, including Moringa plantations, Acacia plantations, and Eucalyptus plantings in Ethiopia, which are essential for both local economies and the national landscape.

Led by Dr Madaline Healey at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Forest Research Institute, along with the Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD), and the Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR), this project brings together the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy that supports forestry-based economies across the region.

Supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the project is a collaboration that extends across Australia, South Africa and Ethiopia.

Early research by the project team reveals a critical discovery. Scientists identify wattle rust, a fungal disease never before recorded in Ethiopia, as the main cause of severe losses in acacia plantations. The disease spreads rapidly and attacks young trees, making it almost impossible to establish new plantings. With no existing control measures in place, the impacts quickly spread along the value chain, reducing incomes, threatening fuelwood and charcoal supplies, and increasing pressure on already vulnerable rural livelihoods.

Chemical pesticides can sometimes help control pests and diseases, but they are expensive and can harm the environment if they are used repeatedly. Because of this cost and risk, most smallholder farmers cannot rely on chemical treatments over the long term. Rather than depending on chemicals, this research project focuses on developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a smarter, more sustainable way to protect tree crops.

IPM combines multiple approaches to reduce pest and disease damage while keeping costs low. The project tests more resilient tree species and varieties, improves nursery and planting practices, explores biological controls such as beneficial insects, and uses targeted treatments only when necessary. Field and nursery trials identify solutions that work under Ethiopian conditions and can realistically be adopted by farmers.

Equally important is building local knowledge and capacity. The project works closely with smallholder farmers, forestry officers and plant protection staff to strengthen skills in pest identification, monitoring and response. This collaboration helps communities detect problems earlier, respond more effectively to outbreaks and reduce the risk of new invasive pests becoming established.

The research also strengthens plant protection systems by improving access to diagnostics, advice and healthy planting material. By increasing the diversity of tree species and varieties available, the project reduces reliance on single crops and builds greater resilience into farming systems.

The benefits extend well beyond individual farms. Healthier acacia, eucalyptus and moringa trees support reliable income, nutritious food, fuel and construction materials, while also improving soil health and landscape resilience. Sustained moringa production, in particular, plays a critical role in household nutrition, for medicinal purposes, and local food security.

This project aims to give farmers practical, affordable ways to protect their trees. By improving pest and disease management and strengthening local skills, the research helps safeguard livelihoods, sustain food and fuel supplies and restore confidence in tree-growing. Healthier forests mean stronger rural economies, better nutrition and greater resilience in the face of climate and environmental change.

There are more than 7 million hectares of eucalypt and acacia plantations in Southeast Asia, which contribute significantly to national and regional economies and provide diverse ecosystem services. They provide timber, fuel, food and income for smallholder farmers, support regional economies through export and play a vital role in environmental health. Yet these forests face a growing and often invisible threat: invasive pests and diseases that spread rapidly across borders and devastate tree crops. Increased trade, the global movement of people, and a changing climate increase the threat of invasive plantation pests in South East Asian forests. 

A major research project led by Dr Simon Lawson and Dr Madaline Healey from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Forest Research Institute addresses this challenge by strengthening forest biosecurity across Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The project, funded by ACIAR, focuses on building an effective, coordinated regional network that improves preparedness, early detection and response to forest pests and diseases.

Globally, invasive pests and diseases are among the greatest threats to forest health and productivity. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable, often lacking the systems, skills and resources needed to detect outbreaks early or respond effectively. Increased trade, global movement of goods and people, and a changing climate accelerate the spread of new and emerging pests, increasing risks for forests and the communities that depend on them.

Across Southeast Asia, biosecurity capacity varies widely between countries, but overall preparedness remains limited. Reviews of previous ACIAR forest health projects highlight a consistent gap: while individual countries make progress, there is no strong, coordinated regional system to monitor threats, share information and respond collectively.

Pests and diseases do not respect national borders. A failure in one country can quickly become a regional crisis.

The foundations of this project emerged from long-term collaboration. Discussions begin in 2017 when quarantine authorities in Laos requested training to improve pest diagnosis and inspection. Workshops and subsequent projects in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia revealed a shared need for stronger collaboration, shared tools and coordinated responses. Later surveys confirmed widespread demand for better surveillance, diagnostics, pest risk analysis, policy development and communication between countries.

In response, the project works to establish a forest biosecurity network across Southeast Asia, linking forestry, agriculture and biosecurity agencies with researchers, industry and smallholder growers. This network strengthens connections between countries and integrates forestry more closely into existing agricultural biosecurity systems.

A central focus is building practical capacity. The project strengthens surveillance and monitoring so pests and diseases are detected early, before they spread widely. It improves diagnostic skills and access to tools that allow officers to identify threats quickly and accurately. Risk assessment and mapping help countries understand where the greatest vulnerabilities lie, from plantations to ports and border crossings.

The project also supports the development of coordinated forest biosecurity policies. By sharing data, experience and research across borders, partner countries align approaches to pest management, quarantine and response. This regional coordination reduces duplication, improves efficiency and strengthens collective resilience to invasive threats.

This work is especially important for smallholder growers.

Across Southeast Asia, millions of families rely on acacia and eucalyptus plantings as their primary source of income. ACIAR-supported tree breeding programs have supported the development of more than seven million hectares of plantations in the region, managed by smallholders in various countries. A single pest incursion can wipe out years of investment, with serious economic and social consequences.

The risks are real. Southeast Asia has already lost more than 600,000 hectares of acacia plantations to disease in recent years. Without stronger biosecurity systems, future losses are likely to increase. The project responds by ensuring surveillance and management tools are practical, affordable and sustainable over the long term.

Community engagement is another key element.

The project recognises that biosecurity is not only a technical challenge but also a social one. Surveys and discussions with growers, industry and local communities explore how people understand biosecurity risks and how everyday practices influence pest spread. Training and community science initiatives, such as tree health surveys, empower citizens to contribute to surveillance, significantly increasing the chances of early detection.

Improved forest biosecurity in Southeast Asia also delivers benefits beyond the region. Many of the most serious threats to acacia and eucalyptus plantations originate in Australia. By strengthening surveillance and response capacity in neighbouring countries, the project provides early warning of emerging threats that could also affect Australian forests.

Field activities have focused on smallholders in Laos and Cambodia, where smallholder forestry plays a critical role in rural development and food security, as they do in other partner countries. Each partner country shares expertise, knowledge and resources to help standardise regional approaches. Together, these partnerships create a model that can be adapted to other regions facing similar challenges.

Through stronger networks, better science and coordinated policy, the project improves the region’s ability to prevent pest incursions and respond rapidly when outbreaks occur. It protects tree crops, safeguards livelihoods and supports sustainable trade in forest products.