Ash dieback will kill most of Ireland’s ash trees in next two decades

Ash dieback disease is set to cause the majority of Ireland’s ash trees to die over the next two decades, according to Teagasc, which has developed two research projects on ash dieback of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior).

A small proportion of ash trees show natural tolerance to the pathogen that causes the fungal attack.

That, according to Teagasc, means that they show minor symptoms and the disease does not have a noticeable impact on their growth or health.

Teagasc is working to identify such trees and build up a gene bank with the goal of producing tolerant ash seed and plants restoring ash trees to Irish forests and hedgerows.

In the meantime, a series of videos advising forest owners how to cope with ash dieback has been produced by the Teagasc Forestry Development Department.

They can be viewed at www.bit.ly/managing_ashdieback.

These and other forestry-related videos can be viewed on the Teagasc Forestry YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/teagascforestryvideos

As well as providing advice to those whose ash plantations have been affected by dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), the videos highlight important factors that need to be considered when removing the infected ash trees, and replacing them with alternative tree species.

Explained Dr Nuala Ní Fhlatharta, Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department:

“Forest owners with affected ash plantations are attempting to find a way forward and Teagasc is supporting them in relation to developing future management options for their forests.”

The series on how to deal with ash dieback is made up of six short videos.