Forests worldwide are constantly beset by new challenges from invasive insects and pathogens, despite this, the pine forests of the USA, have yet to have to deal with a serious threat from exotic, pine infesting organisms. We are leading the development of a plan crafted with involvement of those with a vested interest in protecting and conserving pine resources in the South, including forest land managers of all sorts (private landowners, foresters, forest product and investment companies, universities, and state and federal agencies). This plan will be ready to be used by all, with possible expansion to use in other regions. Within this plan, we consider the development of a functioning communications and stakeholder network; the detection, identification, assessment and diagnosis of potential and actual threats; the delimitation of impacts; responses including decision support; and the keys to successful implementation in an ever-changing climate. Crafting a sufficient response to a novel pine pandemic may be especially challenging in the novel conditions likely characteristic of no analogue futures.
