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UK bans sweet chestnut import to protect native trees from fungal blight UK bans sweet chestnut import to protect native trees from fungal blight
(about 5 hours later)
Imports of sweet chestnut from areas affected by a fungal blight will be banned to prevent a repeat of the disease that is devastating the UK's ash trees. Imports of sweet chestnut trees from areas affected by a fungal blight will be banned to prevent a repeat of the disease that is devastating the UK's ash population.
Sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) is usually fatal and killed 3.5 billion trees in 20 years across Europe and northern America, where it was first detected in the 1930s. There are an estimated 44m sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa) in the UK. Sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) is usually fatal and killed 3.5bn trees in 20 years across Europe and northern America, where it was first detected in the 1930s. There are an estimated 44m sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa) in the UK.
Environment secretary, Owen Paterson, indicated in May that he would like to implement the ban to prevent infected saplings reaching the UK, and on Friday confirmed they will be banned before the end of September. The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, indicated in May he would like to implement the ban to prevent infected saplings reaching the UK, and on Friday confirmed they will be banned before the end of September.
"I'm taking action to protect our sweet chestnut trees by bringing in rules to ban the import of trees from areas in Europe where they have sweet chestnut blight ahead of the planting season," he said."I'm taking action to protect our sweet chestnut trees by bringing in rules to ban the import of trees from areas in Europe where they have sweet chestnut blight ahead of the planting season," he said.
Just over 18,000 sweet chestnuts were imported to the UK in the first four months of 2013. The blight was detected in the UK in 2011 in around half of 300 trees in Warwickshire nut production and later at a site of 30 trees in East Sussex. All the trees were subsequently destroyed. More than 18,000 sweet chestnuts were imported to the UK in the first four months of 2013. The blight was detected in the UK in 2011 in about half of 300 trees planted for nut production in Warwickshire and later at a site of 30 trees in East Sussex. All the trees were subsequently destroyed.
The Country Land and Business Association and the Horticultural Trades Association welcomed the import ban. The Country Land and Business Association and Horticultural Trades Association welcomed the import ban.
Sweet chestnut blight is one of the diseases on a new risk register of diseases and pests threatening the UK's trees and plants, which is in the process of being setup after the recommendation of an independent tree health task force.Sweet chestnut blight is one of the diseases on a new risk register of diseases and pests threatening the UK's trees and plants, which is in the process of being setup after the recommendation of an independent tree health task force.
The government has admitted that ash dieback, which was found in the UK last year, cannot be stopped and the most that can be hoped for in the short and medium term is to slow the spread of the fungus that causes it.The government has admitted that ash dieback, which was found in the UK last year, cannot be stopped and the most that can be hoped for in the short and medium term is to slow the spread of the fungus that causes it.