Ash was once a dominant native Irish woodland species, as well as fulfilling a sporting role in hurley manufacture because of its strong, springy timber. That was until ash dieback, a highly destructive fungal disease, came to Ireland. It is likely to have come here in 2012 when the disease was confirmed in a consignment from continental Europe. Spread locally by wind dispersal, it causes leaf loss, canopy decline and, in many cases, tree death.
It coincided with farmers, landowners and investors scaling up ash plantations, supported by grant aid. What transpired was a tragic demise of the species, culminating in losses estimated at hundreds of millions of euro for growers. It delivered hard lessons on the dangers of monoculture and the vulnerability of single species forests.
Ash dieback, which is set to wipe out 90 per cent of Irish ash, should be treated as a “national emergency”, an expert group has concluded in a stark review published last week. A State-led national and rapidly-coordinated response is required, it recommended, including a taskforce to ensure safe and comprehensive clearance and re-establishment of plantations.
While some compensation has been provided by the State, it was inadequate with insufficient emphasis on clearance and site restoration. The report’s full acknowledgement of the extent of the problem and detailed recommendations are to be welcomed, even if it is belated.
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The Government must quickly put in place meaningful compensation and support efforts to re-establish forests. This is critical to rebuilding trust and confidence in forestry, especially with farmers. This is against a backdrop of deplorable failure on overall forestry targets, with planting rates below what is required if Ireland is to decarbonise in line with ambitious climate targets.
The demise of Irish ash also highlights huge risks from poor biosecurity controls. The world has a massive problem arising from circulating plant pests and pathogens, often causing devastation of trees and crops. Future, similar, challenges to the natural world are inevitable.