In this lecture from the FISC (Forest Invasion Synthesis Centre, Prague) symposium, research entomologist Kevin Chase explores why cities are becoming critical hotspots for the introduction and establishment of non-native insects and pathogens. Drawing on case studies and current research, he highlights how live plant imports remain a major pathway for invasions, how propagule pressure around ports and transport hubs creates “hotspots” of establishment, and why certain neighborhoods or landscape types—such as mowed turf, fragmented green spaces, or stressed roadside trees—offer conditions that favour pest growth.
Chase also explains how the physiological state of urban trees affects their vulnerability, from chlorophyll content to stress accumulation, and why soil conditions—especially soil compaction—can predispose trees to damage. He introduces the concept of economic and aesthetic thresholds that guide real-world management decisions, and discusses how arborists and city managers can combine cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical tools to strengthen resilience across parks, streets, and residential areas.
Watch the full talk to see how understanding tree health, urban design, and invasion pathways can help build healthier and more resilient urban forests.
Kevin Chase is a Research Entomologist at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, where he focuses on invasive forest insects, urban tree health, and applied arboriculture. His work spans diagnostic research, field monitoring, and practical management of pests in urban and suburban landscapes. Chase has contributed to early detections of invasive pathogens and insects, including reporting laurel wilt in the southeastern United States and documenting severe scale infestations affecting evergreen oaks in the UK. He integrates entomological research with tree physiology, soils, and cultural practices to support science-based urban forest management.
Project HIVE 101187384. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
