Outbreak of P. ramorum in Japanese Larch Woodland

P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen which can attack a wide range of trees and other plants. It was confirmed for the first time in a Japanese larch plantation on the Antrim plateau in August 2010.

In 2010, nine woodland sites in the North of Ireland were diagnosed with the disease:

Six Forest Service sites were affected. These were:

Three of the outbreak sites were in private ownership.

301 hectares in Forest Service sites and 6 hectares in private sites were felled.

As part of an ongoing surveillance programme, aerial and ground surveys were conducted in 2011 and further infection was confirmed on larch at seven public forest sites. The sites affected were - Glenarm, Glenariff, Woodburn, Ballyboley, Tardree, Tievenadarragh (Bohill), and Moneyscalp. Of these sites five are forests where the disease was confirmed in 2010, where additional infected areas have been identified, and two were new forest sites.

The new public forest sites were Tardree located on the Antrim Plateau, and Moneyscalp Wood (part of Tollymore Forest Park).

In addition to the public sites, nine new private outbreak sites were confirmed. Six of these were in the Antrim Plateau area in proximity to previous outbreaks, and two were in Co. Down, again in the area of existing outbreaks.

On the outbreak sites confirmed, statutory notices (private), and letters (public) were issued requiring the felling of trees and appropriate biosecurity measures. The felling required totalled approximately 62 hectares in the public forests and 9 hectares in private ownership.

Following two aerial surveys ( in mid-June and early September) and on-ground inspections, infection affecting 128 hectares of larch trees has been confirmed at seven public forest sites – Cleggan Forest, Glenariff, Glenarm, Slievanorra, Tardree, (all on the Antrim Plateau) and Carnagh and The Fews (Co. Armagh).

In addition, infection of approximately 22 hectares of trees has been confirmed at 7 private sites.”

Felling of trees affected at the sites identified in 2012 is at an advanced stage.