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| UK tree expert issues 'unknown' pest threat warning | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 18 May 2013, 12:34 AM (156 Views) | |
| skibboy | 18 May 2013, 12:34 AM Post #1 |
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17 May 2013 UK tree expert issues 'unknown' pest threat warning By Mark Kinver Environment reporter, BBC News ![]() The biggest threat facing UK trees is a disease that is both unknown and unexpected, Dr Slawson said A tree expert has said the biggest threat facing UK trees is likely to come from a disease currently unknown to science. The warning came as a leading UK citizen science programme launched a tree health monitoring project. Tree officers suggest urban trees, already under stress from city living, are among the most susceptible. Last year's arrival of ash dieback threatens to change the nation's treescape forever, ecologists say. "Firstly, it is important to say that is very difficult to prioritise what are the main threats," explained David Slawson, head of plant health public engagement at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera). "But I would always say the main threat is 'unknown'." Dr Slawson added: "It may sound slightly alarming, but the likes of Phytophthora ramorum was not defined by science when it started causing problems. "It could be an unknown disease that could be the next big thing and that is why putting generic measures in place that aim to protect against everything are so vital." One of those measures is a formal scientific process called Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), he told BBC News. "So there is a very well established international procedure on how you do assess the risk of an individual pest," he said. As well as safeguards put in place by plant scientists within Fera and the Forestry Commission, Dr Slawson explained that the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) was continually monitoring the movement of potential threats to Europe's flora. EPPO also publishes Pest Alerts, which acts as an early warning system and often forms the basis for scientists to exchange data and research at the monthly meeting of the EU Plant Health Standing Committee. Now, another dimension has been added to the array of monitoring methods - citizen scientists. Fera is one of the partners in the Open Air Laboratories' (Opal) latest survey, which focuses on tree health. Opal is was designed to get people outdoors and provide a chance to get involved in scientific research. Its director, Dr Linda Davies, said: "Tree health is one of the most important surveys Opal has developed so far. "Whilst learning about local trees and gathering lots of interesting information, local people can also contribute their findings to a national research programme investigating the condition of the nation's trees and the factors affecting them." Bleak expectations Scientists are expecting this summer to reveal that ash dieback will have extended it reach across the landscape. ![]() Disease is expected to kill the plane trees lining France's Canal du Midi The omens are not promising. This week saw the first confirmation of an outbreak of Chalara fraxinea disease in the wider environment in Wales. "Once again, it brings into sharp focus the ongoing threat our trees and woods are facing and highlights the need for a stringent plan of action to protect them," said Austin Brady, head of conservation at the Woodland Trust. "Ash dieback is just one of the many diseases and pests already in the country with many more just across the border in Europe." Keen for early detection of new cases of ash dieback, the Forestry Commission has posted a video on its website to help people identify infected trees during the spring. The Commission said the video was designed to help people spot tell-tale signs on ash trees, which are late coming into leaf compared with other species. "We are particularly interested in suspected cases in counties where it has not been found so far," Dr John Morgan, head of the Commission's Plant Health Service. He added that August and September were the best months to look for symptoms of dieback because by the autumn infected leaves could be confused with leaves that were naturally changing colour. Although the temporary ban on ash imports remains in force, the government issued a statutory plant order in January that required people to notify officials if they planned to bringing ash, sweet chestnut and plane trees into England. ![]() |
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3:06 PM Jul 11