More global trade means more forest pests

Along with U.S. manufacturing jobs, you can count another victim of global trade: American trees.

The most destructive forest pests from abroad are arriving at an accelerated pace, according to a new study. Between 1990 and 2006, new ones were discovered in the U.S. at an average rate of 1.2 per year, or nearly three times the detection rate during the previous 130 years.

The jump coincides with a rise in imports, leading the authors of a paper published in the December issue of BioScience to conclude that current rules and inspections to keep forest pests out of the country aren't that effective.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/12/foreign-forest-pests-on-the-rise-.html