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Ash tree disease crisis summit held at Holyrood Ash tree disease crisis summit held at Holyrood
(about 9 hours later)
A summit is being held at Holyrood to discuss the best way of stemming the spread of Chalara ash dieback. About 50 interested parties have met at Holyrood to discuss the best way of stemming the spread of Chalara ash dieback.
The fungal disease, which spreads in the wind and threatens to devastate the UK's ash tree population, has now been confirmed at 14 sites across Scotland. The fungal disease, which threatens to devastate the UK's ash tree population, has been found at 14 Scottish sites.
Two of these - at Eyemouth and at Kinghorn - involve mature trees in their natural environment. Representatives from organisations such as the Woodland Trust spent an hour discussing how to manage the outbreak.
The Scottish government has said it is not realistic to eradicate the disease given its spread across the UK. The Scottish government hopes to develop a "control strategy" by the end of November.
Woodland Trust Scotland said the public could play a key role in identifying affected trees. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "We will look at options for new planting sites, including immediate action to remove infected young plants. We will continue to monitor the situation and assess the scope and range of the disease and decide on an appropriate course of action.
Last week staff from the Forestry Commission completed a rapid action survey of 2,730 ash sites across Scotland. "The next phase of our response will involve working closely with all of the land managers in Scotland - and the public - to monitor the disease, report it wherever it is found and act appropriately to deal with it while seeking to identify mature trees that are resistant to the disease."
Laboratory results from samples taken as part of that survey were said to have provided vital information which will be discussed at the summit. 'Back foot'
The meeting will bring together forestry groups, conservation bodies and landowners' organisations to work out how to tackle the threat. Labour environment spokeswoman Claire Baker described the conference as "very much the case of bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted".
Organisations taking part in the summit include Confor, Woodland Trust Scotland, National Farmers Union Scotland, RSPB Scotland, WWF Scotland, Ramblers Association and Scottish Land and Estates. "The meeting today is merely a fig-leaf to cover the embarrassment of the SNP, whose ministers have been caught asleep on the job," she said.
'Slow the spread' "We need to understand why Scotland is still on the back foot when it comes to tackling this disease."
The government previously said it is not realistic to eradicate the disease given its spread across the UK.
Most cases north of the border have been found in saplings in nurseries or planted at new developments, but it has affected mature trees at Eyemouth and Kinghorn.
In February ash dieback was found in a consignment of trees sent from a nursery in the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire, England.In February ash dieback was found in a consignment of trees sent from a nursery in the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire, England.
It is also been found at 14 locations in Scotland, mainly in saplings in nurseries or planted at new developments, but it has affected mature trees at Eyemouth and Kinghorn.
The disease is only infectious during the summer months and there is said to be very little risk of it spreading at this time of year.The disease is only infectious during the summer months and there is said to be very little risk of it spreading at this time of year.
Rory Syme, from the Woodland Trust Scotland, told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We will be hosting a major international conference to gather experts from around the world to look into ash dieback. Rory Syme, from the Woodland Trust Scotland, told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "All of the trees that the Woodland Trust plants from now on will be sourced and grown from British seed.
"Secondly we'll be looking at a major investment in UK nurseries. All of the trees that the Woodland Trust plants from now on will be sourced and grown from British seed. "What we're looking to do is to launch a major project linking the public and scientists together to help monitor our native trees."
"Thirdly what we're looking to do is to launch a major project linking the public and scientists together to help monitor our native trees."
Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse, who will host the event at the Scottish Parliament, said it was very difficult to see circumstances which could prevent the disease spreading further in the UK.
He added: "The first thing is really to confirm where the disease has reached in Scotland, so we'll be retesting areas in a 1.5km radius around affected sites, that's just to establish if there are any other sites around those that have been confirmed.
"Then we'll be looking to work with land managers and landowners to monitor the spread of the disease.
"The key step is to ensure that we slow the rate of spread to bide us time to identify resistant trees we can then breed from."