Bug could have decimated forests

A pest intercepted on wood packaging at an Irish port last week has been confirmed by an entomologist as the lethal spruce bark beetle, which has the potential to destroy Ireland’s disease-free forests.

The beetle was discovered by Forest Service officials on a consignment of sawn spruce timber on a cargo vessel which arrived at Killybegs Port in Co Donegal from Saint Petersburg in Russia.

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Food said the interception of the pest showed the controls had worked effectively.

Importers, however, should be vigilant regarding wood packaging.

Ireland and the rest of the EU enforces a new standard for regulating wood packaging material in international trade to reduce the risk of such pests being introduced or spread.

Following the discovery of the pest on wooden pallets used to contain the timber during shipping, IFA Farm Forestry Chairman John Jackson called for increased awareness to protect the disease and pest free status of Irish forest.

He praised the vigilance of the Forest Service on intercepting the beetle and for the great job it has done in implementing plant health legislation and protecting the health of the national forest estate to date.

“However, I would be concerned that with increasing trade people are not aware of the possible threat that substandard wood packaging can cause to the health of Irish forests. To date we have been lucky in keeping these pests out of our country.”