Ash dieback summit at Holyrood
A summit is to be held at Holyrood to discuss the best way of controlling the spread of Chalara ash dieback.
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Ash Dieback - Crisis talks at Holyrood
Ash Dieback crisis talks in Holyrood
A crisis summit has been held to discuss how to combat the tree disease Ash Dieback in Scotland.
Read the full storyAsh Dieback - Crisis talks at Holyrood
Forestry groups, farming unions and landowners associations are in crisis talks in Holyrood on how to stem the spread of Ash Dieback.
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Holyrood accused of being behind on tackling Ash Dieback
Representatives from forestry groups ,farming unions and landowners associations arrive at Holyrood this afternoon for crisis talks on how to stem the spread of Ash Dieback.
The fungal disease, has been confirmed at 14 sites across Scotland.
The meeting has been called by Scotland's Environment Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, who's also a South of Scotland MSP.
Borders MSP John Lamont has accused the Scottish Government of 'dropping the ball' on Ash Dieback.
He said;
“While Mr. Wheelhouse is only just starting to get into gear when it comes to fighting Ash Dieback, the UK Government has already taken quick steps to tackle it. UK plant health authorities took immediate action on discovery of the disease and they soon after imposed a ban on ash imports and restricted its movement.
– John Lamont MSP“In comparison we have seen the SNP dropping the ball on this issue and risking more trees in the Borders becoming affected by it. We cannot afford to see it spread any further in the region and the Environment Minister has serious questions to answer about why their reaction has been so lax.”
The Scottish Government says it is not realistic to completely eradicate the disease, which has spread across the UK. Mr Wheelhouse says work will get underway to identify trees that have a genetic resistance to the fungus and can be used to restock woodlands.
Holyrood discuss Ash Dieback
Representatives from forestry groups, farming unions and landowners associations arrive at Holyrood this afternoon for crisis talks on how to stem the spread of Ash Dieback.
The fungal disease, has been confirmed at 14 sites across Scotland.
In Eyemouth, it has affected mature trees in the wild. In Dalbeattie Town Wood around 4000 saplings have been infected.
The meeting has been called by Scotland's Environment Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, who's also a South of Scotland MSP.
Meeting to discuss the spread of ash disease
A summit is to be held at Holyrood to discuss the best way of controlling the spread of Chalara ash dieback.
The disease has already devastated thousands of the UK's ash trees, has now been confirmed in 14 different areas across Scotland.
Forestry, farming and environmental organisations will meet for the summit next week.