Plant and Tree Health

Information about the Northern Ireland Plant Health Risk Register, the threat posed by pests and pathogens of trees and plants, diseases of current concern and how to report suspected cases.

Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (It used to be called Chalara fraxinea). The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback in affected trees and can lead to the death of the tree.

Follow the links below to see all the available interactive forest plans by Forest Planning Area (FPA).

Ips typographus commonly known as Eight-toothed spruce bark beetle or the European spruce bark beetle, large spruce bark beetle and larger eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, is a serious and destructive pest of spruce tree species.

This Privacy Notice provides information about Forest Service Plant Health Division’s processing of personal information in relation to delivery of our functions. Forest Service Plant Health Division also processes personal information in relation to delivery of our Forest Service functions

The Ash Sawfly (Tomostethus nigritus) is emerging as a significant pest in Northern Ireland, particularly affecting ash trees. It was first identified in Northern Ireland in 2016.

Chalara causes leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions in affected trees. Once a tree is infected the disease is usually fatal.

The bacterium Dickeya solani causes a severe Blackleg like condition of potatoes. This is a relatively new pathogen, only being scientifically described in 2014. It can lead to up to 20% of seed potatoes being rejected in severely infected crops.

The Citrus Longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis), and it’s close relation the Asian Longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis,) come from South East Asia, and have recently been found in mainland UK.

P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen which can attack a wide range of trees and other plants.

Forest Service’s Plant Health Inspection Branch (PHIB) recently held an awareness event at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus to highlight this disease to the local horticultural industry, and to provide guidance on statutory obligations and good practice.

Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) is an EU listed quarantine pathogen of potatoes which causes stunting of the plant and malformation and cracking of tubers. The main host is potatoes but the disease also affects tomatoes and solanaceous ornamentals.

Ring rot of potatoes is caused by the bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus.

Meloidogyne fallax is root knot nematode which invades and attacks the root systems of host plants. It causes yield losses and may also affect the quality of produce (e.g. skin blemishes on potato tubers, forking and blemishes on carrots).

Meloidogyne minor is a root knot nematode which invades and attacks the root systems of host plants. It causes yield losses and may also affect the quality of produce (e.g. skin blemishes on potato tubers, forking and blemishes on carrots).