The devastation caused by Ash Dieback disease

CHALARA DIEBACK OF ASH -Understanding its spread and the potential impact for the UK Ash is the UK's third most abundant species of broadleaved tree (after oak and birch), covering 129,000 hectares of woodland. source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science Ash provides an important habitat for more than a quarter of Britain's lichen, including nearly 14% of the nationally rare/scarce species. source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20219649 >40m The Annual Business Survey 2010 reported average employment in 2010 of 14,000 in forestry and 29,000 in primary wood processing. The common ash is a large deciduous tree that can http://www.forestry gov.ak/forestry/infd-adowy reach heights in excess of 40 metres (130ft). Ash supports more than 100 species of insect, including 60 of the rarest in the UK. they are long-lived trees - so good for hole-nesting birds, woodpeckers and lesser stag beetles source: http://treedisease.co.ak The forest industries supported 2.5% of the UK economy in 2005 and indirect operationrough their direct source http//www.confor.org.ak/Upload/Doo contribution of the forest industries eport June 200o6.pdf 2009 A call for an import ban on ash trees by the Horticultural Trades Association is ignored. 2010 Ash dieback recorded in 22 European countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium. 1992 FEBRUARY Ash dieback is first seen in 2012 Poland. Ash dieback is found at a Buckinghamshire nursery in trees imported from the Netherlands. NOVEMBER 2012 SUMMER 2012 Government holds emergency COBR meeting. Urges public to carry out protective measures after visiting OCTOBER Leicester City Council discover an incidence of woods. 2012 Chalara in a batch of trees The disease is now confirmed in 115 sites: in 15 nurseries, 39 planting sites and 61 locations in the supplied by Crowders. On 29th October, a Plant Health Order prohibiting all imports of ash seeds, plants and trees is intro- duced by parliament. UK. Caused by fungus Chalara fraxinea - causes leaf loss and crown dieback Caused by spores blown in from Europe and brought in on imported plants in affected trees - may lead to tree Spores spread about 20 miles death Could have a bigger impact than the Spreads in Dutch Elm summer with Confirmed tiny mushrooms in the on dead UK in leaves disease February 2012 spreading to other plants In Denmark, Ash Dieback has wiped out 90% of ash trees in just seven couk/newond/202703 years. 1990s 12000-2004 2005-PRESENT FINLAND '07 NORWAY 07 SWEDEN OV02 ESTONIA 03 LATVIA 00 DENMARK 03 LITHUANIA 92 NETHERLANDS 10 BELGIUM 09 GERMANY 02 POLAND 92 CZECH REPUBLIC 04 SLÓVAKIA 04 FRANCE 07 SWITZERLAND. O AUSTRIA OS 2HUNGARY 07 SLÓVENIA 06 ROMANIA 94? ITALY 09 source BBC/Euforgen WHAT ASH DIEBACK LOOKS LIKE: Crown dieback, wilting, discoloured leaves and lesions are symptoms to look out for. There are 80 million ash trees in the UK - Ash dieback could kill 90% of them. 66 The loss of ash on this scale would be an environmental disaster..." -Norman Starks, Operations Director, The Woodland Trust IN THE PAST... Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Dutch Elm disease spread throughout Europe, killing an estimated 30 million trees in Britain alone by 1985. http://www.forestrygow.uk/r/COU-UAJCI. Crowders By 1990, very few mature elms were left in Britain or much of continental Europe. source http//en.ikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch elm Growing since 1798 You a ese an Elm Management Area