The IUFRO Division 7 Joint Meeting took place from 21-23 August in Tokyo, Japan, under the theme "Theory and practice to address defoliating insects, invasive pests, and biological control of insects and pathogens in forests." The event brought together 45 participants from across the globe, all engaged in forestry health. Attendees had the opportunity to interact and engage in fruitful discussions on critical issues related to forest health. As part of the meeting, participants embarked on a field trip to observe the impact of red-necked longhorn beetle, Aromia bungii on cherry trees at Orihime Park. The tour continued to Ushiku city, where attendees examined the effect of Asian longhorn beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis on local trees.

The program featured three keynote speakers, 22 oral presentations, and 18 posters. FABI was well represented at the meeting, with Prof. Brett Hurley, Dr Privilege Makunde, and Dr Mesfin Gossa (ex-FABIan) delivering oral presentations, and a poster contribution from Dr Michelle Schröder. Such international meetings are vital for facilitating the rapid exchange of new scientific findings and techniques among researchers, furthering the collective knowledge and efforts in addressing global forestry challenges.

Oral Presentations:

Privilege T. Makunde, Bernard Slippers, Brett Hurley. Leafroller caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) affecting Eucalyptus in South Africa.

Brett Hurley, Bernard Slippers. Revising a century-old biological control programme: considering climate, diversity, and specificity.

Mesfin W. Gossa, Wilma J. Nel, Garyn Townsend, Tran X. Hung, Pham Q. Thu, Brett Hurley. Exploration of natural enemies of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, Euwallacea fornicatus, in Vietnam.

Poster Presentation:

Michelle Schröder, Bernard Slippers, Brett Hurley: Warming tolerance of the Blue gum gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa, and its biological control agents.