Last chance to save Britain’s ash trees?
Senior press officer
The Woodland Trust is urging ministers to strengthen the UK’s biosecurity measures after the emerald ash borer, a devastating tree pest responsible for killing millions of ash trees in the US, was detected for the first time in the EU.
The Trust has warned that the emerald ash borer is one of the world’s most destructive tree pests, and that the human movement of wood products is one of the principal ways it is spread.
The warning comes as the Government negotiates a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union, designed to reduce trade barriers on plants, plant products and food. Government guidance suggests routine phytosanitary certification and border checks on many plant products moving from the EU into Great Britain will no longer be required once the agreement comes into force.
The arrival of the emerald ash borer would come while Britain’s ash population is already under severe pressure from ash dieback, potentially creating a double blow for one of the UK’s most common and culturally significant trees. The pest can kill otherwise healthy ash within three years of infestation.
Ash is one of Britain’s most important native trees, supporting around 950 species including lichens, insects and mammals. Of these species, 44 are entirely reliant on ash. If it's lost from our landscape, the consequences will extend far beyond the species of tree itself, triggering declines of many other species and potentially causing further damage to the health of entire ecosystems.
Andy Egan, head of policy advocacy at the Woodland Trust, said:
“The UK’s ash trees are facing a fight for their survival. After the devastation caused by ash dieback, the prospect of another deadly pest reaching our woodlands should sound alarm bells across the government.
“The emerald ash borer has left a trail of destruction wherever it has become established. With the pest now detected inside the European Union, ministers cannot afford to allow the new UK-EU agreement to come at the cost of our ash population.
“We are calling on the Government to guarantee that their efforts to reduce trade friction will not create new opportunities for destructive tree pests and diseases to reach our shores. The future of Britain's ash trees depends on getting this right.”
Notes to editors
About the Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust was established in 1972 and is now the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, with more than 500,000 members and supporters.
With a vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, today the Trust owns and cares for more than 1,000 woodland sites, covering around 33,000 hectares.
The Woodland Trust has three key aims:
protecting the UK's rare, unique and irreplaceable ancient woodland
restoring damaged ancient woodland, nurturing precious pieces of our natural heritage back to life
establishing new native woods and trees to create healthy, resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.
Access to all Woodland Trust woods is free so everyone can experience the physical and mental benefits of trees.