Defra’s programme of research on ash dieback has broadly focused on three areas:

1. Impacts: Research into predicting the economic, social and environmental impacts of ash dieback in woodlands and the wider environment.

1. Mitigation: We are conducting the world’s largest screening trials to identify disease tolerant trees, which raises the possibility of using selective breeding to develop strains of tolerant trees. We have also commissioned research to develop guidance for local authorities and landowners to mitigate the impacts of the disease

2. Better understanding of the disease: We have commissioned research to enhance our understanding of the disease including work on spread and disease progression.

The publically available UK Plant Health Risk Register, records and rates risks to UK crops, trees, gardens and ecosystems from plant pests and pathogens. It forms an agreed, evidence based framework for decisions on major pest and disease threats. The major threats to trees include Phytophthora ramorum, emerald ash borer, ash dieback and acute oak decline.

There is systematic screening of pest and disease risks which may be introduced through the trade in live trees. We carry out risk-based inspections at our borders to prevent the entry of such pests. Our inspectors are highly effective in comparison to their peers: the UK consistently makes more interceptions of harmful organisms than any other EU member state (around 40% of the total for the EU).

We have strengthened EU regulations through the introduction of protected zones for high risk pests and statutory notification schemes for firewood and tree species at risk, for example, plane, oak, sweet chestnut and prunus. Over the last two years we have seen a 36% decrease in the number of imported oak and pine trees and a 65% decrease in the number of imported sweet chestnut.

Individual tree deaths that could be directly attributed to the pests and pathogens listed are not recorded by DEFRA or the Forestry Commission.

Many trees that have been affected by pests and diseases will be felled long before they finally die and it is often the case that trees that do die have been affected by a combination of factors over a long period. For example, a tree that suffers repeated defoliation may succumb to other environmental factors. This means that it would be very difficult to attribute the death to a single factor.

In some cases many more trees can be felled as a result of the control measures than as a result of the pest or disease. For example, for the control of Asian longhorn beetle in Kent, which appears to have been successful, 2,166 host trees were removed but only 66 were found to be infested.

Individual tree deaths that could be directly attributed to the pests and pathogens listed are not recorded by DEFRA or the Forestry Commission.

Many trees that have been affected by pests and diseases will be felled long before they finally die and it is often the case that trees that do die have been affected by a combination of factors over a long period. For example, a tree that suffers repeated defoliation may succumb to other environmental factors. This means that it would be very difficult to attribute the death to a single factor.

In some cases many more trees can be felled as a result of the control measures than as a result of the pest or disease. For example, for the control of Asian longhorn beetle in Kent, which appears to have been successful, 2,166 host trees were removed but only 66 were found to be infested.

No monitoring of individual tree deaths that could be directly attributed to the pests and pathogens listed is carried out by DEFRA or the Forestry Commission.

Many trees that have been affected by pests and diseases will be felled long before they finally die and it is often the case that trees that do die have been affected by a combination of factors over a long period. For example, a tree that suffers repeated defoliation may succumb to other environmental factors. This means that it would be very difficult to attribute the death to a single factor. Additionally, in some cases many more trees can be felled as a result of control measures than as a result of the pest or disease.

In relation to biosecurity, the definition of a tree is cast as wide as possible in order to avoid creating loopholes and gaps. The aim is to identify, assess and respond to threats to trees whatever their size and setting—forests, amenity sites (eg parks and gardens), street trees, orchards, private gardens, trees along motorways and rail lines and in trade networks, including nurseries.

The Big Tree Plant, launched in 2010, is a coalition Government commitment to plant 1 million new trees throughout England by 2015. The campaign encourages and supports community groups to plant trees in neighbourhoods where people live and work. It helps improve the quality of life of those living in England's towns, cities and residential areas by making neighbourhoods more attractive, healthy places to live, especially in areas of greatest deprivation or where there is little greenery.

The campaign is a partnership bringing together national tree-planting organisations and local groups working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Forestry Commission, with the Forestry Commission providing £4.0 million of grant funding.

To date, the campaign has seen over 239,000 trees planted across the country with £3.4 million of the £4.0 million funding already allocated to 128 groups who will be planting over 813,000 trees by 2015. 8,000 of these will be street trees and over £7.0 million of match funding has been identified by applicants so far.

In addition, the Forestry Commission is providing technical support for the London Mayor's Street Tree programme. The previous programme saw the planting of 10,000 new trees and the current programme aims to plant a further 10,000 new trees across the capital by March 2015.