Bbc news
20 September 2012
Dasthistorma needle blight originally
a southern hemisphere disease, as mentioned in the article is spreading over
commercial forests in Scotland. And it is estimated to have the biggest impact
on the north and north east of Scotland. Hugh Clayden, Forestry Commission
Scotland believes that what they need to do right now is to “buy time by
reducing those areas that are most heavily infected”. The techniques are
thinning and pruning, which is removing some trees and selective removal of
parts of a tree. Which the forest omission says will “increase the air flow and
reduce humidity”. Commercial woods in
the north have already started too felled as a result of the Dasthistorma
needle blight, those woods where home to the endangered capercaillie and supposable
many other. Neil Crookston of Scottish Woodlands said: "The forestry
industry in Scotland is very important for the rural economy.” So stopping this
needle blight is an upmost importance to Scotland, because its not only
affecting the environment but Scotland’s economy. Because of the impact the
disease could have on biodiversity “The
Scottish government, through Forestry Commission Scotland, has been working
very closely with the industry to raise awareness of the disease, not only to
help forest managers identify it and assess its local severity but also to
highlight the measures that can be taken to slow it's spread and limit the
damage that it can cause" stated by Minister for the Environment and
Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse. The Scottish
Green Party has requested for a campaign to raise awareness of Dasthistorma
needle blight. it is wary important for people to know how trees look like when
they have the needle blight and they must know that it can be transferred thro shoes
and clothing. Scientist know that the needle blight is spreading north because
of climate change but what I think is important to know is how did it just appear
in Scotland. It is important to know if it was human afflicted or not and how. I
believe it is important because if we know how it appeared we can do something to
stop it from accruing again. Now Scotland is considering an aerial spraying
which they have not done over 20 years.
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