DEFRA tackles tree disease threat

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Forestry Commission are extending a disease eradication programme to tackle a new threat to Britain's trees.

The programme, initiated two years ago to fight the spread of oak-killer phytophthora ramorum, will now also cover another species of phytophthora causing similar damage to beech trees and rhododendrons in Cornwall. Experiments will be conducted to see whether woodland in the affected area can be safeguarded by removal of rhododendrons.

Phytophthora "taxon C" has not been identified in any other country and there is evidence it may kill beech trees more quickly under UK conditions than the ramorum disease, which DEFRA says is now spreading more slowly due to measures taken across Europe in response to the British action.

During the first six months of 2004 there were 40% fewer new outbreaks of phtyophthora ramorum in the UK and 60% fewer contraventions of plant passport regulations.