FABI PhD candidate Mandy Messal was invited by SCION researchers Mr Andrew Pugh and (former FABIan) Dr Stuart Fraser to write a news article for the monthly SCION Forest Health Newsletter (SCION, New Zealand). In the short article, entitled “Microbiomes and tree health” she discussed the importance of including the biologically-active microbial community into disease models. Understanding the plant microbiome is important in maintaining microbial diversity and ecosystem health in plantation forests. Knowledge on microbiomes can be linked to forest management and potentially improve forest health, especially in the light of global climate change, shifts in land use patterns and accidental introduction of invasive organisms.