In the last few years, several new or previously unrecognised pests and pathogens have emerged as significant risks to the UK’s plants, including trees in woodlands, commercial forests and in the urban environment. Given this background, Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser established an independent, expert Taskforce to provide advice on threats from plant pests and pathogens and to recommend how best to protect the UK from those threats.

The Taskforce published an interim report in December 2012. Building upon feedback on the interim report from the wider stakeholder community, the Taskforce reviewed the evidence base and the likely costs, benefits and practicality of implementation for each recommendation; leading to publication of this final report which contains eight inter-related recommendations.