NON-NATIVE FOREST PATHOGENS THREATEN THE HEALTH AND PRODUCTION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS AND THERE IS CRITICAL NEED TO ENHANCE CAPACITY FOR MONITORING AND EARLY DETECTION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE ORGANISMS. THE MAJOR AIM OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND EMPOWER VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR TREE HEALTH AND CONTRIBUTE SAMPLES FOR RESEARCH. THE PILOT PROJECT OF THE FOREST HEALTH DEFENDERS PROGRAM WILL ENGAGE RESIDENTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO MONITOR AND CHARACTERIZE THE HEALTH ISSUES OF RED ALDER (ALNUS RUBRA), AN IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL TREE SPECIES THAT IS NATIVE TO FORESTS IN THE WESTERN USA. THE OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AN APPROACH THAT INTEGRATES EXTENSION, EDUCATIONAL, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. ENGAGING CITIZENS AS FOREST HEALTH DEFENDERS WILL ENHANCE THE BIOSECURITY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY BY EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO MAKE CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS. THE PROGRAM WILL UNITE MANY KEY STAKEHOLDERS WITH A COMMON GOAL TO KEEP FORESTS HEALTHY AND THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES WILL ADVANCE THE APPLICATION OF CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR FOREST PROTECTION.