Insect pests and diseases may have more negative impacts on Managed Red Pine stands under climate change.

Diseases and insect pests are currently not responsible for much mortality in mature red pine stands, but they may become more damaging under warmer conditions. Longer growing seasons and milder winters might allow populations of native forest pests to build more rapidly, and many pests have been shown to be more damaging when interacting with trees that are already stressed due to droughts or other impacts. New agents such as annosum root rot or western bark beetles may also enter northern Minnesota in the future.