Book excerpt: Forest Microbiology: Tree Diseases and Pests, Volume Three in the Forest Microbiology series, provides an overview of major disease agents of trees, including viruses, phytoplasma, bacteria, fungi, nematodes and major insect pests. With a strong emphasis on genetics, biochemistry, physiology, evolutionary biology and population dynamics of the organisms involved, this book provides a comprehensive understanding on the health of forests. Sections cover important pest threats such as bark beetles, emerald ash borer, coffee borers, leaf cutting ants, cocoa mirids, and more. This volume highlights a range of emerging diseases of forest trees in temperate and tropic regions as well as information on habitats. Forest trees play crucial roles not only for mitigating effects of the climate change but also for their considerable economic and ecological value. Forest trees are equally vital as an alternative bioenergy source and play important roles in pollution abatement and the maintenance of biodiversity. Timber and its associated products from forest trees contribute substantially to the revenue generation of many countries of the world. - Includes case studies of complex diseases of economically important trees - Highlights novel approaches to managing tree pests and diseases in a changing climate - Focuses on the many functions of microbial disease agents of trees - Addresses major insect pests of boreal, temperate and tropical trees