Woodland owners can apply to fell larch once again as Forestry Commission Wales has lifted its temporary embargo on issuing licences.
Applications for licences will begin to be processed again from today (1 June).
The embargo on issuing licences over the winter months was part of the ongoing fight against the spread of ramorum disease of larch, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum.
Larch trees need to be in full leaf for symptoms of ramorum disease to be identified. However, during the winter once the trees have dropped their needles, it is difficult to confirm if they are infected.
Now the trees have flushed with new needles, any infected trees can be identified before felling and appropriate biosecurity measures can be put in place to avoid spreading the disease to other trees or plants.
Rachel Chamberlain, Grants and Regulations Operations Manager, Forestry Commission Wales, said, “Having considered several options last year, we decided to adopt a short-term embargo on applications for a felling licence, where larch trees were a component.
“Our approach was taken on board by woodland owners and we only received six applications involving larch during that time.
“I would like to thank woodland owners and managers alike for their co-operation and I can assure them that we will be pulling out the stops to process applications as quickly as possible from the beginning of June.”
The approach in Wales followed the introduction of a joint Forestry Commission England and Forestry Commission Wales policy in connection with the processing of felling licence applications for larch over the winter months.
Kath McNulty, National Manager for Wales, Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor), said, “Forest owners will welcome being able to apply for felling licences for larch trees.
“Ramorum disease does not harm the timber and there is no risk of spreading the disease from wood that has been processed.
“It is therefore essential that we continue to manage these important woodlands.”
Ramorum disease of larch is caused by a fungus-like pathogen that kills many of the trees that it infects. It was first discovered on larch trees in Great Britain in 2009 in South West England. It was then found on larch in Welsh Government woodlands in South Wales in June 2010.
Infected Japanese larch trees produce particularly high numbers of the spores that spreads the disease – significantly more than the level produced on rhododendron – meaning the disease can quickly affect a large number of trees and shrubs.
Further information about ramorum disease can be found on the Forestry Commission’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum.
