DEFA acts to protect Island's ash trees

The Forestry Department says it has stopped the importation of ash trees for forestry use as a precaution against contaminating the Island's Ashes with Ash dieback.

The devastating disease has resulted in the widespread loss of ash in Europe in recent years, with Denmark losing an estimated 90% of it's ash trees.

The disease, which is caused by a fungus, has now spread to parts of Anglia in England.

Forestry productivity and compliance manager at DEFA, John Walmesley, says with Ash making up almost 25% of the Island's hedgerow trees, the department is very concerned about the disease . .