Insect pests, pathogens, and interactions with drought and other disturbances may cause damage in the near term, with the Asian longhorned beetle posing a serious threat to northern hardwood species.

Ash, hemlock, and beech have already declined on the landscape due to insect pests such as emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid, and beech bark disease. There are many invasive plant species, insect pests, and forest diseases that have negative impacts on central hardwood-pine forests, many of which are expected to increase through the direct and indirect effects of climate change. Invasive species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard are already threats to some forests, and invasive species are expected to increase in abundance under climate change, particularly where forests are disturbed.