Fightback of the Ash Tree

 

Regarding Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus). Initial conclusions assessed that 1-5% of trees may show realistic tolerance to Ash dieback, but none have yet been found to display extensive resistance, or have they? 

The ash population could indeed eventually recover over time and studies are ongoing to investigate this. Nature has a way of balancing itself out, given time and the right circumstances. 

One thing is certain though and that is that immunity will not be achieved if all the trees are felled. 

Tolerance to the disease may be problematic because a number of issues come into the equation. This may include genetic attributes, the tree’s overall condition, the local environment, and the number of Ash dieback spores in the surroundings.

Survivors producing yet more survivors. 

The trees do seem to be fighting back in some areas, thanks to good old natural selection… 

Professor James Brown is studying the disease and says:

"It may take decades or possibly centuries, but the signs seen in this and other woodlands with resistant trees suggest that ash will survive as a keystone species."

“In the wider environment about 5% of trees seem to be more obviously resistant to dieback. In this woodland it’s the other way round; about 5-10% are obviously diseased and the rest are healthy ”

https://www.jic.ac.uk/advances/rising-from-the-ashes/ 

I spent almost a decade in the 1970s working with Southport Corporation / Sefton Council on the Dutch Elm Disease problem. 

Many trees were in poor condition and had to be removed, yet others were felled for far more questionable motives. One of the principal factors leading to modern urban tree removal is when roots affect pavements and raise kerbs. Fear too of potential insurance claims can push anxious council officials into scapegoating a disease as a false flag reason to axe perfectly healthy trees. 

I have seen this happen many times in the past and knew of numerous mature trees needlessly felled that were in fact quite healthy.

Ash trees that are in a poor state in urban locations of course have to be removed. However, we must be prepared to allow Mother Nature a sporting chance to heal her creation, rather than always rush in panic for the saw. 

Good advice here too from Devonashdieback.org.uk.  

'DO NOT FELL live infected ash trees UNLESS for public safety (or timber production). There is evidence that a small proportion of trees will be able to tolerate the disease and recover. Disease resistant trees could be the source of our future ash trees.'

https://www.devonashdieback.org.uk/take-action/infected-trees-dos-and-donts/ 

In the billions of years of our planet's evolution do we really think that trees have never before faced, suffered from and yet ultimately conquered various diseases? 

So in a nutshell, only ignorant fools and greedy profiteers remove infected trees that are not posing any safety problems. By recklessly removing such trees we are in fact stopping the species from developing vital resistance, via natural selection.