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distance dispersal of fungal spores; 3) whether birds or other animals move infective spores; 4) wheth- er cutting, covering, or chemically treating trees are effective means to reduce beetle colonization of dead or dying trees and to reduce dust and frass production; 5) environmental factors that affect dispersal by wind and water; 6) what the relative risks of human-caused spread are (e.g., hiking, off- road vehicles, etc.); 7) whether fencing and ungulate removal or other forest conservation measures result in reduced numbers of ROD infected trees; and 8) what type of monitoring approaches are best to evaluate the effectiveness of ROD containment actions. Personnel and resources required for this research include: salaries for senior researcher, graduate student, two field and two lab technicians, equipment and supplies ($370,000 each year for 2017, 2018, and 2019). Understanding the impact of ROD on 'ohi'a forests—There is a critical need to understand how ROD affects the structure and composition of 'ohi'a forests, determine ROD related rates of mortality in various forested areas, document what happens to these ROD affected forests over time, and proj- ect the impact of ROD to 'bhi'a at larger scales. A network of ROD research plots has been established in the past two years and is being expanded to encompass the range of ROD impacted 'bhi'a forest types across Hawai'i Island. These plots are sampled regularly to quantify extent and patterns of ROD mortality, determine whether Ceratocystis Species A and/or B are responsible for tree mortality; iden- tify physical (e.g., lava substrate and age, climate), biological (e.g., forest size, age and composition), and hydrological (e.g., drainage, water holding capacity) factors that may affect disease distribution, and determine post-ROD forest succession across varied landscapes. Annual re-measurement of these plots and variables provides fine scale understanding of 'ohi'a mortality, information for developing treatment and restoration actions, and field based data to inform aerial surveys and remote sensing based modeling. The personnel and resources required include two technicians ($120,000 each year for 2017, 2018, and 2019). tsc...., .t .- S 1 tr. Beetles like this ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus saxesenii) have been found boring into sick and dead 'ohi`a, producing sawdust (frass) that is contaminated with Ceratocystis spores. Research is progressing on the role of insects and wind in the spread of the disease. (Curtis Ewing photo) I 9