The Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP) represents a cooperative venture between the major players in the South African Forestry Industry and the University of Pretoria, to deal with tree disease problems. The programme is based on a membership concept where forestry organisations are members and contribute to a collaborative effort through the payment of annual fees. The University of Pretoria in turn provides the infrastructure necessary to conduct research into tree pests and diseases, which is technologically complicated and thus expensive.