GB plant biosecurity strategy is a missed opportunity

Whilst the Woodland Trust welcomes elements of the new GB plant biosecurity strategy, such as investment in the UK sector, the plant health accord and funding for vital citizen science projects, we see it as a missed opportunity that more emphasis has not been given to strengthen the commitment to UK grown plants. The most effective way to reduce the threat from international plant trade is to fulfil UK demand with domestic plants. 

This year marks 11 years since ash dieback was discovered in the UK, a disease which stands to wipe out up to 80% of the nation’s second most common tree at an estimated cost of £15 billion. Despite the loss of millions of trees, this has not served as the wakeup call it should have been to reduce our reliance on imports. It’s welcome news that all trees planted by Forestry England in a forestry setting are UK grown, which is a critical step to safeguard our trees. We also need government to expand this requirement to all tree planting that it is funding.

The strategy describes how over a third of the 454 native tree species in Europe are considered threatened and also highlights how plant trade poses a significant threat to the entry of pests and diseases, though the strategy does not go far enough to mitigate this threat. Since 1990, more than 20 serious tree pests and diseases have been imported to the UK which are now wreaking havoc on our wildlife populations and stripping our landscape of trees. Last year we saw Phytophthora pluvialis recorded in Cornwall, the first finding in Europe. In February we saw the interception of pine processionary moth, imported from France despite existing regulations that are intended to prevent accidental imports of new pests and diseases.  And oak processionary moth is increasing its range with each passing year.

Policy is not working and lags far behind the science. The evidence tells us the most common pathway for the entry of certain pests and diseases is through international plant trade. Yet we remain a mass importer of plants. The strategy outlines how, through the Nature for Climate fund, over £10 million will be available through the Tree Production Innovation Fund, Tree Production Capital Grant and Seed Sourcing Grant to help increase UK production. While this lays good foundations for reversing the reliance on imports, more investment is needed to safeguard our current and future trees. We need to see further, longer term commitments to support the UK nursery sector. The Trust welcomes the commitment to develop the Horticulture Strategy for England to identify and support increased growth potential within the domestic nursery sector and hopes this can give longer term commitments desperately needed.

It is disappointing to see no commitment to absolute quarantine for high-risk trees, where imports are unavoidable. For example, the UK has one of the most diverse populations of chestnut blight fungus in Europe, despite it being a relatively recent addition with limited distribution, reflecting multiple imports of the fungus. This can remain symptomless in hosts for six months, demonstrating the need for absolute quarantine when imported.

The Trust remains committed to being a partner in the Observatree project, which offers vital resource on the ground to help detect and monitor our trees. We welcome government commitment to ongoing resources to allow this to continue and also the increased investment and development of the reporting tool, TreeAlert.

The new GB plant biosecurity strategy is a missed opportunity with too much focus on frictionless trade rather than halting the flow of pests and diseases into the UK. It will be devastating if we continue to lose millions of trees, putting our efforts to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises in jeopardy. As things stand, the task of increasing woodland cover is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

Notes to editors

For more details about this release contact Natalie Stephenson, senior PR officer at the Woodland Trust on 0343 7705795 or email nataliestephenson@woodlandtrust.org.uk

About the Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK. It has over 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife.

The Trust has three key aims:

1. protect ancient woodland which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
2. restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life
3. plant native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. Access to its woods is free so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.