Plant pest threat to woodlands

A new tree disease or pest establishes itself in the UK every year — a new study assesses the impacts

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THE arrival of new plant pests and diseases is likely to severely damage UK trees and woodlands in the coming decades, new research shows.

‘The ash dieback epidemic prompted the Government to assess all pests and diseases that could potentially enter the UK and affect trees and agricultural crops.

In the new study, University of Exeter scientists assessed the 636 tree pests and diseases to work out the invasion probability and likely effects on tree growth.

Based on recent rates of pest and disease arrival, they estimate that - by 2050 - more than half of tree growth could be lost, compared to growth if no new pests and diseases arrived from now onwards.

Tackling pest and disease invasions is considered difficult in a world of global trade and travel, but tight biocontrol would slow the pro-

The ash dieback epidemic showed us how devastating a single tree disease can be

PROF DAN BEBBER