Worland Cancer and Fungi Related Disease

Transcription

1 WELSH GOVERNMENT TREE HEALTH STRATEGY Intrductin In its strategy fr trees and wdlands, Wdlands fr Wales, the Welsh Gvernment (WG) made a cmmitment t bring mre wdlands int management, expand wdland cver and increase the resilience f Welsh wdlands and trees s that they deliver mre benefit t the public. The visin expressed in the strategy is that: Wales will be knwn fr its high-quality wdlands that enhance the landscape, are apprpriate t lcal cnditins and have a diverse mixture f species and habitats. Pests and diseases have significant ptential t impact n the health f trees and wdlands in Wales. Pests and diseases d nt recgnise plitical brders but are usually driven by changes in climate, weather patterns, inadequate cntrl f imprted plant material and the availability f suitable new habitats. Over the past decade, several new pests and diseases have been fund in the UK, and sme have becme established with serius ecnmic (e.g. Phytphthra ramrum), scial (Oak Prcessinary mth) and envirnmental (Chalara fraxinea) cnsequences. There are many pathways fr pests and pathgens t enter the UK and Wales we trade plants and timber glbally and increasingly use wd-based packaging material. Awareness f the impact f climate change n the severity f sme f ur existing pest and disease prblems is als crucial, since climate and weather has a majr influence n behaviur and ppulatin dynamics f many rganisms, bth psitively and negatively. Effective cntrl methds must be practical at a range f spatial scales, while als cnfrming t wdland certificatin and mre general plicy demands t minimise chemical use. Wales reliance n a very narrw range f species makes it particularly vulnerable, especially if specific diseases take hld. We need t imprve ur understanding f species site type requirements and the relatinships between species n a site Imprving silvicultural systems, increasing the diversity f species, chice f site type and care ver prvenance chice as guided by the research will play a vital rle in the future health f Welsh wdlands. 1

2 Objectives f the Tree Health Strategy fr Wales The key bjective f the Welsh Gvernment s Tree Health Strategy is t: Preserve the health and vitality f trees and wdlands in Wales thrugh strategies which exclude, detect, and respnd t, existing and new pests and pathgens f trees, whether f native r extic rigin. Take practive measures t reduce the impact f pests and diseases n trees and wdlands in Wales. This bjective will be achieved by a series f actins that include: ensuring ur tree health plicies are aligned with EU and GB plicies where apprpriate in rder t prvide a c-rdinated respnse t the threat f pests and diseases. ensuring ur brder cntrls are effective, and n the basis f available evidence, are prprtinate t the risks psed by bth knwn and unknwn bisecurity threats; hrizn scanning and mnitring fr the presence f previusly absent pests, r the spread f existing nes; supprting research t understand the ptential f pests and diseases new t GB and Wales as well as the develpment f existing nes; supprting research t help understand the impacts f changing cnditins n existing pests and diseases; assessing the ptential f pests and diseases t cause damage t trees and wdlands in Wales based n the best scientific evidence available; establishing clear gvernance prcedures t prvide directin and accuntability fr dealing with existing and future pest utbreaks; encuraging the adptin f sund bisecurity practice in a cnsistent way n bth the public and private frest estate thrugh general awareness raising t stimulate cultural and behaviural changes; 2

3 supprting the c-rdinatin f activity between public agencies and stakehlders t prevent gaps in bisecurity cverage fr ur frests, trees, wdlands and the wider envirnment generally; prviding effective cmmunicatin channels t keep stakehlders and the general public infrmed abut tree health issues, and supprt early identificatin f ptential prblems; and determining hw t best address the risks psed t frest and wdland health frm imprted trees, including thse intended fr urban planting. Details f sme f the current tree health issues and future threats are shwn in Annex 3. Species Diversificatin and Resilience Wdlands play an imprtant part in ur ecsystems, particularly thse wdlands with a diverse structure and species cmpsitin. Wdlands that lack diversity cntribute less t the value f ur ecsystems and tend t be mre vulnerable t the impact f pests and diseases. Diversificatin f wdlands helps t imprve bth the envirnmental value f wdlands and their resilience t pests and disease. Up until the mid-1970s, affrestatin fcussed n the uplands where species chice is limited resulting in the standardisatin f species chice in British frestry and a heavy reliance upn a limited number f species. Recent increases in the number f intrduced pests and diseases affecting ur trees and frests, and prjected impacts f climate change, have remved sme imprtant species (larch, ash, Crsican pine) frm the ptins available t us and created a need t cnsider a wider prtfli f species as a cmpnent f management strategies aimed at adapting ur frests and wdland fr the future. With these issues in mind we need t: wrk with thers t identify cntingency species and resistant gentypes that can substitute fr species affected by current r future utbreaks f pests and diseases; diversify species cmpsitin and stand structures t increase the resilience f frests; 3

4 assess a wider range f species and prvenances likely t be mre suited t the prjected climate f the future; increase silvicultural skills amng wdland managers in Wales t help them t diversify wdlands, and wrk with tree nurseries t ensure they have sufficient lead-in time t prduce planting stck f a wider range f species. when intrducing new tree species, r making greater use f minr species, the need t evaluate evidence abut their susceptibility t pests and diseases as well as their ability t prduce usable timber. Delivery The delivery f the Wales Tree Health Strategy will be managed by the Wales Tree Health Steering Grup established by the Welsh Gvernment in July 2013 The purpse f the Grup is t advise and supprt the Welsh Gvernment in setting ut WG plicy and develping its strategic respnse t utbreaks f pests and diseases affecting trees, including cnsideratin f their ptential impact n plants in the wider envirnment. Further details f terms f reference and membership f this grup as well as its relatinship with ther relevant grups is shwn in the sectin n gvernance in Annex 2. 4

5 Annex 1 Rles and Respnsibilities The need t have a clear strategy fr the management f a given pest r disease is f ver-riding imprtance in rder t be able t respnd rapidly t an increased threat f attack. These strategies need t take int accunt the wider envirnmental and ecnmic cnsequences f the infectin and nt see management f pests and diseases as an end in itself. Once the strategy is defined, its implementatin and the delivery f any assciated statutry duties is the respnsibility f all the rganisatins cncerned with wdlands in Wales. The Welsh Ministers have a general duty t have regard t the natinal interest in maintaining and expanding frestry resurces in Wales. Managing the impact f pests and disease plays a key rle in the applicatin f this duty. In additin t its respnsibilities fr tree health, NRW has a general statutry duty t prmte the interests f frestry, the develpment f affrestatin and the prductin and supply f timber in Wales and t prmte the establishment and maintenance f adequate reserves f grwing trees. A sectin 83 agreement under the Gvernment f Wales Act 2006 has been agreed between the Welsh Ministers and the Frestry Cmmissiners t define these arrangements and a Memrandum f Understanding between the Welsh Gvernment, Frestry Cmmissin and Natural Resurces Wales describes their shared understanding f hw they will c-perate t deliver their rles and respnsibilities fr tree health in Wales. The Welsh Gvernment has plicy respnsibility fr tree health in Wales and therefre wns this strategy and any disease specific plans fr the management f pathgens in Wales. The Welsh Gvernment Natural Envirnment and Agriculture Team are respnsible fr plant health in Wales and the Frestry Plicy Team leads n tree health issues. As f the 1 st April 2013 the Welsh Ministers' tree health functins are delegated t bth the Frestry Cmmissiners and Natural Resurces Wales. They are each respnsible fr different functins as shwn in the flwchart in Annex 3. 5

6 The Frestry Cmmissiners are respnsible fr functins as they relate t the imprt f material frm third cuntries and the mvement f material int the Eurpean Unin, including the issue f plant passprts and the registratin f frestry traders. Bth bdies are respnsible fr the authrisatin f persns as inspectrs, but fr different purpses: thse authrised by the Frestry Cmmissiners undertake inspectin and enfrcement activity in relatin t the premises f registered frestry traders (cmpanies that imprt the timber f cntrlled tree species int the UK) and thse authrised by Natural Resurces Wales t undertake inspectin and enfrcement activity in relatin t all ther premises. 6

7 Annex 2 Gvernance The Wales Tree Health Steering Grup (WTHSG) The Grup is t advise Welsh Gvernment n the fllwing matters: Finding ways f building resilience against pests and diseases in trees and wdlands in Wales (bth public and private) in the shrt, medium and lng-term; Linking with ther EU and GB grups t review the threat t Wales presented by new and emerging tree and tree related plant pests and diseases s that WG can c-rdinate the develpment f respnse plans t specific pests and diseases; Cnsidering the resurce implicatins f pests and disease and the cst and deliverability f cntrl strategies; C-rdinating the actins f strategic and peratinal grups invlved in managing tree pests and diseases in Wales t ensure that their actins are aligned with the needs f Wales. In relatin t the management f Phytphthra ramrum, the Wales, the Phytphthra Operatinal Respnse Team (PORT) is respnsible fr recmmending any change in management f the disease in Wales t the Wales Tree Health Steering Grup and fr liaising with the GB Outbreak Management Team (OMT) t ensure it is aware f the psitin in Wales; Identifying ptential barriers such as the lack f adequate imprt cntrls t prtect the health f trees and wdlands and suggesting ways f reslving them; Building skills and capacity in Wales t supprt tree health surveillance, detectin and hrizn scanning, including thrugh apprpriate training and the use f citizen science; Develping and mnitring the cntingency planning and emergency respnse arrangements and recmmending imprvements as required; 7

8 Mnitring the implementatin f the Welsh Gvernment s strategic respnse t pests and diseases t ensure they meet the needs f the Welsh frestry sectr (bth public and private) and prtect the wider envirnment f Wales. Develping and delivering a Cmmunicatins Plan t infrm and engage the public and frestry sectr partners f the actin that the Welsh Gvernment is taking t prtect trees and wdlands. The Grup is chaired by the Deputy Directr, Land, Nature and Frestry Divisin, Welsh Gvernment and reprts t the Minister fr Natural Resurces and Fd. The grup s place within the gvernance structure fr the management f tree health in Great Britain is shwn in the attached pdf file. 8

9 9

10 Annex 3 Duties and functins f WMs, FC and NRW fr Plant/Tree Health in Wales Natural Resurces Bdy fr Wales Statutry duties and functins under Frestry Act 1967 General Duty t prmte the interests f frestry, the develpment f affrestatin and the prductin and supply f timber in Wales; t prmte the establishment and maintenance f adequate reserves f grwing trees. Welsh Wdland Estate pwer t manage land placed at its dispsal by Welsh Ministers fr the purpse f its functins; can nly acquire r dispse f land as agent f the WMs subject t cnstraints f s.83 arrangement; WMs general duty t have regard t the natinal interest in maintaining and expanding frestry resurces in Wales. Plant Health Eurpean Obligatins Directive 2000/29/EC measures against intrductin and spread f Dmestic Legislatin Plant Health Act 1967 framewrk Act t cntrl pests and diseases in trees, 10

11 Subrdinate Legislatin Tw Regimes: Frest Trees and Timber Other Plants Plant Health (Frestry) Order 2005 Plant Health Regulatins WMs nw apprpriate authrity s.83 arrangements* in place with FC and NRW t exercise WM functins. Inspectin by FC Plant Health Team peratin f transitinal prvisins. parallel regulatins England and Wales same regime as fr tree health; inspectin, investigatin and enfrcement; FERA s Plant Health & Seeds Inspectrate; perate in Wales under s.83 arrangement. Statutry Plant Health Ntices issued by an inspectr t wner/ccupier f land requiring infected trees t be killed; failure t cmply is a criminal ffence with a penalty fine f up t 5,000; can be amended r withdrawn by an apprved FC r NRW inspectr; decisin must accrd with public law principles (reasnable, ratinal etc); cntrl f disease by SPHN can be negated by the rapid spread f a disease; alternative cntrl t restrict mvement f infected bark and timber. 11

12 Current Tree Health Issues and Future Threats 1. Currently mst active and presenting a serius prblem Of current particular cncern in Wales at present is the genera Phytphthra (Greek fr plant destryer ) which has ver the last tw decades significantly increased its impact upn Eurpean frest ecsystems. In Wales P ramrum has spread rapidly in the last tw years in larch and is nw at a level where it is likely that almst all larch in Wales will becme infected in the next decade. The Wales Phytphthra Operatinal Respnse Team (PORT) is respnsible fr advising the Wales Tree Health Steering Grup n the delivery f the WG strategy fr managing this disease in Wales and recmmending any change in apprach depending n the psitin f the disease. Chalara fraxinea disease f ash is nt currently causing as much damage in Wales as in ther parts f the UK but has the ptential t increase its impact n ur wdlands. A Chalara Management Plan fr Wales is in place and is reviewed by the Wales Tree Health Steering Grup as required by changes in the psitin f the disease. 2. Established tree health threats which are currently stable and under rutine management but liable t change depending n climate r weather changes. Red Band Needle Blight (caused by the fungus Dthistrma septsprum) is f increasing cncern with a widespread impact in Britain, mainly n Crsican pine, but als n ther species f pine, and may becme mre acute in Wales in the future. It causes premature needle defliatin, resulting in lss f yield and, in severe cases, tree death but can be managed by gd thinning practise. Large Pine weevil (Hylbius abietes) and Hylastes spp are particular prblems assciated with clearfell and restck regimes with all cnifer species affected. They jintly represent the mst serius pests f newly planted trees in the UK. Wdland managers are advised t adpt integrated frest management appraches t reduce chemical usage and nn-chemical strategies that affrd prtectin against Hylbius where these are dependable and cst-effective. 12

13 Great Spruce bark beetle (Dendrctnus micans) is a well-established pest in western Britain that was accidentally intrduced frm cntinental Eurpe. Spruce is ur mst imprtant cmmercial tree species and managing this pest wuld be a high pririty fr actin if the current cntrl measures d nt cntinue t cntain its impact.. A number f Phytphthra species are present in GB and causing prblems t a range r plant/tree species e.g. P cinnammi and P cambivra. 3. Emergent plant health threats with the ptential t becme very serius at sme pint in the future Acute Oak Decline (AOD) affects bth f Britain's native ak species and is being fund in mature trees in the English midlands but is spreading mre widely. The casual mechanisms are nt understd and therefre it is nt currently subject t regulatin. Asian & Citrus Lnghrn Beetle are wd brers that attack a wide range f deciduus trees, ntably Acer spp. There are currently utbreaks in Italy and The Netherlands. An utbreak in SE England was successfully dealt with. As the climate becmes mre favurable (milder wetter winters), utbreaks f ak prcessinary mth Thaumetpea prcessinea, gypsy mth Lymantria dispar and the Eurpean spruce bark beetle Ips typgraphus (a very serius ptential pest f spruce in Wales), culd necessitate the need fr rapid actin. A Generic Cntingency Plan describing hw the Welsh Gvernment wrks with partners such as the Frestry Cmmissin and Frest Research t identify and meet the threat frm new pests and diseases f trees in Wales has been develped. Octber