Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) public information meetings

Everybody is welcome
but please do NOT bring samples to the meeting.

Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) is a serious concern for one of Ireland’s most important native trees. Forest owners are asked to attend a Teagasc/Forest Service meeting in your area to learn more about the disease and how we can all work together to eradicate it.

Teagasc, in association with the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will hold a nationwide series of public information meetings on the disease in response to the recent findings of Chalara fraxinea in a number of young forestry plantations and other locations.

This series of evening meetings will run from 20 to 30 May 2013 and will be held in local Teagasc offices. All meetings will start at 8pm. Please see table below for more information on meetings in your area.

Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by the fungal pathogen Chalara fraxinea (Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus). It has spread rapidly across much of Europe causing significant damage to ash. The disease can affect ash trees of any age and can be fatal, particularly among younger trees.

With more than fifty confirmed findings in Ireland, the information meetings will provide an important and timely opportunity for the public and in particular forest owners and farmers who have planted ash to learn more about the disease. The meetings will provide the latest news on Ireland’s campaign to eradicate the disease and offer an ideal forum to get answers to your questions about ash dieback.

Staff from Teagasc and Forest Service will cover a range of topics including –

• What is ash dieback?
• What does it look like?
• What is the current situation in Ireland?
• What to do if you have a suspect tree?
• What measures are being taken to eradicate the disease?

The meetings will also address the consequences for forestry grant aid, REPS and AEOS. Particularly where ash dieback is confirmed in ash trees planted under these schemes. And remember, please do NOT bring samples to the meeting.

Remain vigilant!

The key message is to be vigilant for this serious disease.