Forest pathology is the research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of a forest ecosystem, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors.[1][2] It is a subfield of forestry and plant pathology.
Forest pathology is part of the broader approach of forest protection.
Insects, diseases and severe weather events damaged about 40 million ha of forests in 2015, mainly in the temperate and boreal domains.[3]