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Ash dieback in Wales found in private woodland Ash dieback found in Carmarthenshire private woodland
(35 minutes later)
Wales' first case of ash dieback disease has been confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).Wales' first case of ash dieback disease has been confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
It was found in a newly planted tree on private woodland in south west Wales but Defra has refused to give more specific details. It was found in a newly planted tree on private woodland in Carmarthenshire but Defra has refused to be more specific.
The news came after the UK Environment Secretary met experts to discuss how to tackle ash dieback (chalara fraxinea). Some scientists warn the outbreak has the potential to devastate the UK's population of 80 million ash trees.
Ideas included focusing action on newly-planted trees. BBC Wales understands seven suspicious sites had been found in Wales with the results of tests being awaited.
Speaking after the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20219649" >summit on Wednesday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: "We called this summit to bring together the best ideas from experts and all who care for our forests so we can urgently prepare an action plan on how to tackle Chalara and better protect our trees for the future. Hundreds of people looking for signs of the disease in Wales have worked in areas of 10 km sq for three days.
"Many of the ideas discussed today are extremely interesting, and our scientists and plant health experts will examine them urgently and include the most effective ones in an action plan by the end of the week." The seven suspicious sites have been tested, and the results are awaited. It is not known if the confirmed site was one of the original seven.
BBC Wales environment correspondent Iolo ap Dafydd said action would be taken at the site where the disease has been confirmed.
He said: "What they will do is take out the new planted trees - planted in 2009 - and they will take all the trees in the surrounding area out as well.
"Obviously it's going to be quite worrying for nurseries, private woodlands and other areas of the country," he added.
Ash dieback was first recorded in eastern Europe in 1992 and spread over two decades to infect most of the continent.
The first confirmed case in the UK was recorded at a nursery in Buckinghamshire back in March.
Some scientists warn the outbreak has the potential to devastate the UK's population of 80 million ash trees.
Forestry Commission (FC) Wales said the affected trees were small and "measures have been put in place to minimise the risk of the disease spreading to the wider environment".
A containment notice will be issued for the site.
John Browne, FC Wales' head of forest regulation and tree health, said, "Wind-borne spores are the main mechanism for the disease to spread in the wider environment, typically during August and September.
"We now have a window to capture the best scientific advice to help shape our response.
"However, now that we have found the first case of the disease in Wales, we believe that more infected trees could be discovered here."
'Utmost urgency'
Environment Minister John Griffiths said the Welsh government was working with other agencies to "tackle this disease as a matter of the utmost urgency".
Confirmation of Wales' first case came after the UK Environment Secretary met experts to discuss how to tackle ash dieback (chalara fraxinea).
Some ideas included raising awareness and issuing information on "leaf litter management".Some ideas included raising awareness and issuing information on "leaf litter management".
Another included developing partnerships "to continue surveillance for disease and resistance and making use of volunteers".Another included developing partnerships "to continue surveillance for disease and resistance and making use of volunteers".
Speaking after the summit on Wednesday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: "Many of the ideas discussed today are extremely interesting, and our scientists and plant health experts will examine them urgently and include the most effective ones in an action plan by the end of the week."