European forests are of immense importance to people, the
environment and the economy. They provide timber, biodiversity,
water catchment protection, mushrooms, medicine, beauty,
protection against avalanche, flooding and landslides and many
other benefits. Some European forests are hot spots of
biodiversity, such as those in the Mediterranean basin. European
forests, however, are under unprecedented threat from three
factors: Rapid climate change, which places ecosystems under
stress. The dominant vegetation in the forests comprises many
long-lived tree species. These trees have little ability to
adapt to environmental changes occurring over the next few
decades, making the forest ecosystem vulnerable. Increased
global trade, population mobility and tourism are leading to an
escalation in the numbers of alien pests and pathogens
intercepted at ports of entry to Europe. These interceptions are
only a small proportion of the alien organisms arriving within
the EU from other continents, and escapes into natural