I am today publishing an action plan for tree health and plant biosecurity.

Biosecurity threats to Britain’s trees and forests are on the increase. To improve the levels of preparedness, we have developed an action plan which sets out a coherent, joined up approach to plant health strategy. This work sets out an agenda for actions to be taken now and in the future:

to minimise the risk of new threats from entering the UK;

to enable us to understand more about the threats we face;

to work with society to make it more aware of threats and pathways;

to identify positive steps which professionals and other stakeholders can take to improve the resilience of trees, woodlands, and forests; and

to ensure an effective evidence base is developed and maintained to inform decisions.

The recommendations of this action plan will be used to steer future evidence and research priorities and activities.

Copies of the “Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan” are available in the House Library and on DEFRA, FERA and the Forestry Commission’s websites.