Despite significant efforts to control its spread, the disease, Phytophthora ramorum, is now unfortunately present in many larch trees across the Island.

The disease, caused by an airborne fungus-like pathogen, can result in lesions on the trunks of infected trees, dieback of foliage, wilting of stems and also stem lesions on infected shrubs and other plants, ultimately resulting in plant death.

Larch species represent our second most prominent conifer species, contributing to over 1,200 acres of the forest estate. Minister for the Department, Phil Gawne said:“2013 has seen a significant increase in the spread of the disease with approximately 50% of our larch now infected. As a consequence of this, our woodland and forest landscape will alter considerably over the next few years”.

“In an effort to contain the disease, the Department has been felling infected areas as soon as practical. To date, we have felled many thousands of trees amounting to an area of approximately 125 acres across the forest estate. Known infected areas continue to be felled whilst plans are drawn-up to deal with the most recently infected areas identified from our 2013 helicopter surveys.”

“In addition to larch, the disease has also been confirmed on sweet chestnut and beech trees along with the shrubs, rhododendron and viburnum. However, the real worry is that is has the potential to spread to other species of plants and threaten important natural habitats such as our heathland areas.”

If this destructive disease is suspected in gardens, woodland or on other private land, the members of the public are advised to contact the Forestry Directorate for guidance. They should not transport any plant material. As the disease can spread to other plant species, it is useful to monitor other susceptible shrubs/trees and to keep the Department aware of further suspected outbreaks of the disease.

In terms of public access, in general the forestry estate continues to be available for public use, although, for safety reasons, areas where timber harvesting operations are taking place will be signposted and must be avoided.

The public is requested to follow some basic bio-security precautions to avoid further spread of the disease. Visitors are asked to follow some simple steps when visiting forests affected by the disease. Signs at entrances will identify areas affected and the advice includes:

• Keep to designated footpaths and tracks to ensure that footwear and/or bicycle wheels remain clean and free from soil and leaf litter.
• Don’t remove any plant material (including wood).
• Clean your footwear, wheels and animals before leaving forest areas to access adjacent heathland and before visiting other sites.
• Respect and follow any safety signage or advice and instructions given by Forestry staff.

Unfortunately, the infected larch timber contains fungi spores in the bark and could transmit the disease if stored close to other vegetation, including some garden plants. However, the Department is currently finalising an extra process to ensure it can safely be used as domestic firewood and has now resumed sales of slightly reduced volumes of bagged firewood to our retail customers. We hope to increase the volume available over the next few weeks and have also diverted some harvesting activity to allow spruce to be felled, so that sufficient supply is now available to our wholesale firewood customers.

The Minister apologised to firewood customers for problems encountered in recent months regarding firewood sales.

“I am sorry that the problems we have been encountering this year have led to customers not getting the level of service they should rightfully expect. That said I hope people will recognise the huge pressures the Department is working under in trying to tackle this devastating tree disease.”

Queries on the disease, public recreation in forests and firewood should be directed to the Forestry, Amenity and Lands Directorate at Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St. John’s, telephone 801263 or email forestry@gov.im

Issued By
Environment, Food and Agriculture