LTOA Biosecurity Statement Highlights Threat to London’s Plane Trees

The London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) have announced how it will deal with threats from tree pests and diseases, via a biosecurity statement. The statement uses the threats faced by London’s plane trees as case studies for biosecurity.

An LTOA statement highlighted the importance of the import ban on planes from mainland Europe:

“The Plane has become a familiar part of the London treescape and is well known for its resilience to pollution and tolerance to root disturbance and pruning. Unfortunately even this hardy species is now vulnerable to pests and diseases, largely due to the ever-increasing movement of plants and timber around Europe and beyond. The loss of this tree in London would be devastating.

“In order to protect the Plane population of the UK from Canker Stain of Plane (Ceratocystis platani), the Forestry Commission (FC) are seeking to maintain the ban on importing planes from mainland Europe. This can only achieved by providing evidence to the European Union plant health authorities that the disease is not present in the UK. The LTOA are working closely with the FC to undertake a survey of Plane trees in London in order to maintain the import ban.”

Richard Edwards, Chair of the LTOA said: “There are unprecedented threats to our city’s trees from the arrival of exotic pests and diseases, many prompted by climate change and globalisation. With this statement our Biosecurity working party sets the scene for future action and illustrates our position with reference to London’s wonderful Plane trees”.