Dr Carlos Rodas, long-time FABI collaborator arrived in South Africa early in May to attend and participate in the annual stakeholder meeting of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), as well as to work with his FABI students and to engage in field research with TPCP members.  Carlos has worked closely with FABI for 27 years having published more than 30 scientific papers with the group including most recently, a book on insect pests and diseases of Eucalyptus and Pinus (together with Prof Mike Wingfield) summarizing their 27 years of research collaboration in Colombia. During the first week of his visit to South Africa he accompanied Prof. Mike Wingfield on a visit to the western Cape to inspect various tree disease problems that FABI works on as well as to meet with Stellenbosch University colleagues Prof. Francois Roets and Dr Janneke Aylward.