During his recent visit to Europe, Prof. Mike Wingfield had the opportunity to meet with colleague Prof. Libor Jankowsky, Dean of Forestry at Mendel University in the Czech Republic.  A day was spent inspecting various insect pests and diseases affecting European forests including, for example, the devastating Ash Die-Back Disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Efforts to preserve biodiversity of fungi and insects, such as the magnificent large Capricorn beetle Cerambyx cerdo were also examined.  And time was spent discussing options to expand the already well-established research collaboration between FABI and Mendel University.  Travel to Estonia also provided him with the opportunity to meet with the IUFRO Headquarters staff in Vienna and, amongst other tasks, to finalise various plans for the IUFRO World Congress to be held in Curitiba, Brazil from the 29 September to 9 October 2019.