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Trees felled to stop killer disease spread
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
South Wales Evening Post
A KILLER tree disease is on the move in Wales, but forestry felling has limited its spread.
Spring surveys by Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) have identified 227 hectares of larch trees affected by Phytophthora ramorum — the majority in one of the disease's hotspots, the Afan Valley.
It means further felling will be required there to curtail its spread.
The disease, which was unknown to science before this century, has also been diagnosed in a small number of larch trees near Aberystwyth and, for the first time, near a reservoir in North Wales.
"We are determined to minimise the impacts of ramorum disease on woodlands and the forest industry, and the support of woodland owners in looking out for early signs of infection will continue to play a key role in our disease management strategy," said Owen Thurgate, Phytophthora project manager at FCW.
"We are appealing to everyone who works in or visits the affected forests to help us contain this outbreak by observing some bio-security precautions so that the pathogen is not inadvertently spread on boots, bicycle or vehicle wheels, tools or machinery.
"Signs explaining these simple precautions will be placed at the entrances to forests where ramorum disease is present."
Mr Thurgate said cutting down affected trees was considered the best way to prevent the disease's spread.
The positive news is that a far greater area of infected trees was found last year compared with this.
Surveyors have to down tools in the winter because larch trees drop their needles and it is difficult to spot the symptoms.
Mr Thurgate added: "The worst case scenario would have been to have found the same number, or even more, trees infected by ramorum disease this year as last year. Whilst it is therefore worrying that we will have to fell a large number of infected trees again this year, it would seem that our decision to swiftly fell infected trees last year has played a key role so far in managing this major outbreak."
During the autumn, infected Japanese larch trees produce huge quantities of the spores which cause ramorum.
The spores appear to prefer moist conditions. Affected trees become ginger and discoloured. The disease does not harm the timber, allowing felled trees to be sold and processed.
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
Trees felled to stop killer disease spread
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
South Wales Evening Post
A KILLER tree disease is on the move in Wales, but forestry felling has limited its spread.
Spring surveys by Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) have identified 227 hectares of larch trees affected by Phytophthora ramorum — the majority in one of the disease's hotspots, the Afan Valley.
It means further felling will be required there to curtail its spread.
The disease, which was unknown to science before this century, has also been diagnosed in a small number of larch trees near Aberystwyth and, for the first time, near a reservoir in North Wales.
"We are determined to minimise the impacts of ramorum disease on woodlands and the forest industry, and the support of woodland owners in looking out for early signs of infection will continue to play a key role in our disease management strategy," said Owen Thurgate, Phytophthora project manager at FCW.
"We are appealing to everyone who works in or visits the affected forests to help us contain this outbreak by observing some bio-security precautions so that the pathogen is not inadvertently spread on boots, bicycle or vehicle wheels, tools or machinery.
"Signs explaining these simple precautions will be placed at the entrances to forests where ramorum disease is present."
Mr Thurgate said cutting down affected trees was considered the best way to prevent the disease's spread.
The positive news is that a far greater area of infected trees was found last year compared with this.
Surveyors have to down tools in the winter because larch trees drop their needles and it is difficult to spot the symptoms.
Mr Thurgate added: "The worst case scenario would have been to have found the same number, or even more, trees infected by ramorum disease this year as last year. Whilst it is therefore worrying that we will have to fell a large number of infected trees again this year, it would seem that our decision to swiftly fell infected trees last year has played a key role so far in managing this major outbreak."
During the autumn, infected Japanese larch trees produce huge quantities of the spores which cause ramorum.
The spores appear to prefer moist conditions. Affected trees become ginger and discoloured. The disease does not harm the timber, allowing felled trees to be sold and processed.
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
