UK forestry organisations make new tree-threat pledge

Confor, the Royal Forestry Society, and Woodland Trust were among the 30 signatories of a new Public Engagement in Plant Health Accord, which has been published today.

Encouraging more public awareness of the issue, the Accord - also signed by Forest Research and the Forestry Commission - is a major part of a plant health action plan being set out by the government. 

READ MORE: Government sets out new five-year plant biosecurity strategy

The five-year strategy will aim to protect Britain’s plant health, native species and biosecurity, as invasive pests and diseases pose a mounting threat to food security, trade and nature.

Here is the Accord and the list of signatories in full

Accord statement

Thirty organisations from across the country have come together in common purpose to protect the health of our nation’s plants and trees. We believe that everybody can play a part in protecting our plants and trees from the threat of pests and diseases.  

We are working together to promote positive behavioural change to safeguard the health of our plants and trees and the benefits they provide for society, the environment and the economy. We believe that considering plant health and good biosecurity practice should be normal for anyone buying and caring for plants, when traveling or spending time in nature, and we will work together to ensure this happens.

Why we need to act

There is a vital need to engage with the public to help us address a number of key threats to plant health. These threats arise because:

• the globalisation of trade has increased the number and geographic extent of points of origin for plants and plant material, allowing new pests and diseases to travel the world   
• there are still large numbers of people travelling with plants / plant material from abroad during business and leisure / tourism (domestic and international) which can introduce pests and diseases
• a changing climate means that ‘exotic’ pests and diseases are more likely to be able to establish  
• our existing plants and trees are more stressed due to more extreme weather like droughts, making them more vulnerable to pests and diseases
• there is a low level of understanding of biosecurity and how biosecurity behaviours relate to plant health

Phytophthora pluvialis is one of the most recent diseases to emerge in the UK

• research has revealed low levels of understanding of what to do / what not to do in support of plant health

A joint commitment to act

The signatories and partners to this accord believe that everyone should engage with plant health and biosecurity and make a contribution to protecting the health of our plants and trees. The more people who take action to defend against the threats to plant health, the better. We all need to understand our responsibilities and take positive actions. Through the Accord, we will work together to develop a long-lasting cultural change of shared responsibility for good plant health throughout the country. We will work together to:

• help everyone to become a responsible plant health citizen who understands the risk of plant pests and disease and the need to protect the health of our plants and trees
• help people to understand the origin of the plants, trees and seeds and the plant health practices and credentials of vendors / suppliers
• reduce the risk of international travels bringing home plants, trees, fruit and seeds from overseas  
• communicate how everyone’s actions can facilitate the movement of pests and diseases 
• ensure everyone knows how to report sightings of pests and diseases that are threatening the health of our plants and trees

A long-term vision for public engagement, awareness raising and behaviour change

Our shared long-term vision is that everyone will appreciate the value of healthy plants and trees, understand threats to plant health, and will act responsibly because they have the knowledge to make the right choices.

What we will do

We will:

• continue to share information, good practice and pool ideas and resources about plant health

The Accord has been signed by the Forestry Commission, whose chief executive Richard Stanford has recently spoken of the need to take timber security as seriously as food security (Image: Supplied)

• effectively communicate research findings and ensure that future plant health interventions are evidence-led to encourage behaviour change 
• work collaboratively to develop new and innovative partnerships that will benefit the health our plants and trees

Guiding principles

The signatories and partners to this Accord recognise the enormous value to society, human health and the environment of healthy plants and trees, that these values are threatened, and that action is required to protect them. 

We recognise the importance of an inclusive and respectful approach to engaging with our audiences. Meaningful behaviour change will only come about if we work with, and actively listen to, the audiences we seek to engage and respond to their needs. 

We understand the need to adapt our engagement to reflect the diversity of social, cultural and geographic contexts and situations that shape people’s beliefs, attitudes, choices and actions.  

Whilst we have a shared vision, we recognise that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. Signatories and partners must have the freedom to tailor the design and delivery of interventions to meet the requirements of different audiences.  

We recognise the fundamental value of scientific evidence as the basis for successful intervention. Because resources are scarce, we commit to sharing the insights from research and evaluation, to benefit all signatories and partners.

Signed by:

• Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Forestry Commission
• Forest Research
• The Royal Horticultural Society
• Horticultural Trade Association
• Scottish Government
• Welsh Government
• Royal Forestry Society
• British Society for Plant Pathology
• Fera Science Ltd
• Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
• Bacterial Plant Diseases Programme
• The British Society for Plant Pathology
• Grown in Britain
• Action Oak
• National Trust
• Arboricultural Association
• The Linnean Society
• Observatree
• British Association of Landscape Industries
• Young People in Horticulture Association
• The Tree Council
• The Plant Health Alliance (Plant Healthy)
• Confor
• Historic Houses
• Scottish Forestry
• National Farmers Union
• Plant Health Centre, Scotland
• Woodland Trust