The government has pledged £25 million to help eradicate the plant diseases Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum, which are spreading across the UK.

Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum are fungus-like pathogens which cause potentially lethal infections in oak and beech trees, as well as infecting and damaging other trees and shrubs which make up Britain’s woodlands.

The pathogens were first discovered in the the UK in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The scale of the outbreak was significant enough for emergency measures against the introduction and spread of Phytophthora ramorum to be introduced throughout the EU in November 2002 and a ‘Phytophthora kernoviae Management Zone’ was established in the UK in 2004. Whilst the number of outbreaks subsequently decreased, 69 sites in England and Wales are still affected by the disease.

The extent of the damage these Phytophthora species cause to trees and shrubs, and the speed at which symptoms develop, mean that they pose a potentially serious threat to woodland and heathland environments. A major epidemic in the UK could have potentially devastating consequences on the landscape, biodiversity, tourism and horticulture.

Rhododendrons, a carrier of both diseases, will continue to be removed in woodland to tackle the problem. The government also plans to invest a significant portion of the £25million into new research and development, and there will be a campaign to make landowners aware of the threat.

Read more about this story on the BBC News website

Visist Defra’s Plant Health home pages

Tomorrow (26 February) sees the formal launch of the POSTnote written by the 2008 BES POST Fellow, with a seminar in Westminster. Laura Spence has spent the past few months working at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, researching and writing a briefing note for parliamentarians (POSTnote 325) on “Wild Deer”.

Wild deer populations are increasing in number and geographic range in the UK. Deer are a valuable natural resource if managed sustainably, but when occurring at excessive densities, they can have negative effects on biodiversity, the rural economy, human health and
safety, and animal welfare. The POSTnote examines the current status of wild deer in the UK, their ecological, economic and social impacts and legislation on their management.

The seminar will take place in the Jubilee Room, Westminster Hall, from 3.30 – 5pm. To find out more see the Event Flyer.
If you would like to attend, please contact POST@parliament.uk or telephone Emma Kearney on 020 7219 2840.

To apply for the 2009 BES POST Fellowship, visit the BES website. Applications must be received by 6 April.

Yesterday evening, the BES Science Policy Team attended the launch of the Million Ponds Project. The ambitious project is a national initiative to reverse the long-term decline in ponds; from around a million 100 years ago, to 500,000 now. Of those that remain, only 8% are thought to be in good condition.

Launching the project last night, Alan Titchmarsh focused on the need for the conservation community to communicate with the public over not only the importance of ponds for wildlife, but also the joy to be had from engaging with nature. Well set-up and maintained ponds provide a fantastic habitat for freshwater organisms but also provide a unique area where children can learn about the natural environment.

Pond Conservation, a national charity dedicated to creating and protecting ponds, and other freshwaters, and the wildlife they support, is co-ordinating the project. Other organisations who are taking part, digging the ponds and providing advisors to assist those wishing to establish ponds on their land, are: Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England, Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission and many others. In total, 11 major partners are involved. The Ministry of Justice and Defence Estates are key partners, wishing to establish ponds in prison grounds and on firing ranges.

Over the first five-years of the project, which is to run for 50 years in total, Pond Conservation hope to facilitate the establishment of 5,000 ponds, at a cost of £3million. Establishing and maintaining ponds is key for the survival of freshwater species: the IUCN has warned that freshwater biodiversity is extremely threatened, and there are more threatened species in ponds in Britain than in lakes or rivers.