Laois event to put spotlight on harmful pests

An event held in Abbeyleix by the Irish Timber Growers Association will put a spotlight on forest health and how to deal with harmful pests. 

The Laois information session on Friday, March 28 in Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, is being held in association with  the Forest Health Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

 The day will begin with an indoor session featuring presentations by DAFM Forest Health Inspectors on forest health in Ireland, followed by questions and answers. The first presentation will provide a general overview of forest health in Ireland and the work of DAFM Forest Health Section including surveillance and official controls. The second presentation will focus on bark beetles and will include updates on the main bark beetles of concern to Ireland.

In the afternoon, we will have an outdoor session in Tonduff forest, outside Abbeyleix, to provide the opportunity for participants to view (dead) examples of harmful pests and to demonstrate and discuss some practical aspects of forest health. Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) previously expressed concern in light of the finding of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) on Sitka spruce in England. The bark beetle is considered a serious pest on spruce in Europe. Currently none of the bark beetles in the Ips family are currently found in forests in Ireland, which is reflected in Ireland’s protected zone status for these pests.

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The Irish Timber Growers Association are fully engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Forestry Plant Health Stakeholders Engagement Group. Donal Whelan said that the Association is committed to working with the Department on this critical issue and representing and keeping forest owners and growers informed of future developments on this and other potential risks to forest crops.

There will be courtesy Tea and Coffee on arrival at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix this Friday and so as to estimate numbers for event attendance pre-booking is kindly requested by emailing office@itga.ie prior to noon this Thursday, March 27.