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Tackling the Risks to Our Woodlands and Wider Environment
- 30 March 2012
Forest, woodland and horticultural stakeholders have been urged to play their part in reducing risks to tree and plant health in Northern Ireland. David Small, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the call at an event held at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus to discuss and develop ideas in relation to the recent outbreaks of Phytophthora ramorum in larch and Phytophthora lateralis in Lawson Cypress.
Speaking at the event he said: “Our woodlands, parks and gardens make a significant and positive contribution to our rural and urban environment, economy, landscape, culture, heritage and well-being. Therefore, we are always concerned when new pests and diseases create a threat to them.”
He went on to outline the Department’s response to Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora lateralis to date, and plans for further surveillance over 2012, and he encouraged stakeholders to play their part in reducing risks to tree and plant health.
Malcolm Beatty, Chief Executive of Forest Service, said: “Trees will soon come into leaf and hopefully we will see that the work carried out over the winter to contain disease was successful. However, Forests remain at risk. We need to be vigilant this spring and summer, and into the autumn, and throughout that time make sure we do not spread disease to other forests that have not been infected. Landowners should remain vigilant for signs of these diseases and report suspicious symptoms to DARD.”
