DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref:
41/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 3 March 2009
The fight against
a deadly plant disease plaguing historic gardens, woodland and
heathlands across England and Wales received a significant boost
today as Environment Minister Jane Kennedy announced £25 million
to help eradicate the disease.
The new funding will support a five-year programme to manage and
contain the risks of two plant diseases Phytophthora ramorum and
Phytophthora kernoviae from spreading further, following a
scientific review and stakeholder consultation.
Announcing the funding at the National Trust site at Nymans
Gardens in Sussex today, Ms Kennedy said:
"These lethal diseases are having a detrimental effect in
pristine locations, which in turn could have a detrimental effect
on our local tourism industry, and our own lifestyles.
"Defra, the Forestry Commission and local authorities are
currently tackling outbreaks across England and Wales including
the New Forest, the south west of England, and Cannock Chase in
Staffordshire. These are significant tourist hot spots that could
face a drop in visitor numbers if we don't act now.
"Many of us escape the hustle and bustle of the city for the
fresh air in our beautiful countryside.
"But if this disease spreads, it could mean parts of the
countryside being cordoned off, and more limited public access -
in addition to further loss of our precious woodland.
"That's why we've announced this significant
funding to help combat these diseases and safeguard our woodlands
for the future."
The new programme is a result of an external scientific peer
review and a public consultation which concluded that more should
be done to try to manage the impact of the disease.
Notes to editors
1. Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae are serious
diseases of trees and shrubs, posing a threat to native woodlands
and heathland species and were first detected in the UK seven
years ago.
2. Since then an interdepartmental programme board has been
overseeing emergency action to contain and eradicate the diseases
and to coordinate research to inform decisions on future management.
3. The programme will have three main work streams:
* disease management;
* education and awareness; and
* research and development.
4. Defra will be working with delivery bodies and key
stakeholders to:
* build on the good work already done by stakeholder groups on
codes of practice and bio security procedures;
* plan the programme activities;
* ensure a coordinated approach is taken; and
* identify any synergies with existing work and opportunities to
enhance the programme.
5. The programme activity will be reviewed after three years to
gauge success and plan future activity.
6. The work will be managed by a new agency, FERA - the Food and
Environment Research Agency. The new executive agency will bring
together the expertise of the Central Science Laboratory, the
Decontamination Service and Defra's plant health and seeds directorate.
7. For more information on Phytophthora ramorum go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pramorum.htm
8. For more information on Phytophthora kernoviae go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pkernovii.htm
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