A groundbreaking forestry research initiative, AshforFuture, has been officially unveiled in Ireland with the primary goal of safeguarding and rejuvenating the ash tree population. Minister of State Pippa Hackett inaugurated the project during its kick-off meeting at Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin on Friday, November 1, 2024. Spearheaded by Teagasc and supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) in the Republic of Ireland, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, AshforFuture brings together a diverse team of experts from across Ireland and Europe.
Minister Pippa Hackett, who holds responsibility for forestry, highlighted the critical nature of the project in tackling the significant challenges posed by ash dieback disease, which has ravaged ash populations on the island for more than a decade. Minister Hackett emphasized the profound historical, cultural, and ecological significance of ash trees in Ireland. She underscored the government’s commitment to supporting forest owners affected by ash dieback, mentioning the €79 million action plan implemented earlier this year, along with reconstitution payments for ash plantations.
The AshforFuture project represents a pivotal step in addressing the ongoing repercussions of ash dieback. By leveraging innovative research, the project aims to identify disease-resistant ash trees, aiding in the restoration of these iconic trees to the Irish landscape. Minister Hackett commended the collaborative efforts of Teagasc, AFBI (Agri-Food and BioSciences Institute), UCD (University College Dublin), DAFM, and all stakeholders involved in this crucial initiative.
The funding for the AshforFuture project is part of DAFM’s 2023 Thematic Research Call, with a total allocation of €770,000, including €260,000 from DAERA. The project’s objective is to select, propagate, and breed disease-resistant ash genotypes to mitigate the impact of the invasive pathogen hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which has been the primary cause of widespread ash dieback in Ireland.
Teagasc director, Prof. Frank O’Mara, lauded the launch of the project, highlighting the collaborative research approach as instrumental in addressing real-world challenges like ash dieback disease. Through partnerships with key stakeholders and institutions, the project aims to develop sustainable solutions that will bolster the future of forests and the biodiversity they sustain.
The AshforFuture project, spanning four years, integrates the expertise of various entities including Teagasc, DAFM, UCD, AFBI, None-so-Hardy Forestry Ltd., Coillte, Office of Public Works (OPW), Woodlands of Ireland, Native Woodland Trust, and the Forest Genetic Resources Trust. The project will concentrate on four core areas: AshComm, AshGen, AshPath, and AshSilva, each focusing on different aspects such as communication enhancement, genetic selection, disease interaction, and silvicultural systems evaluation.
Dr. Dheeraj Rathore, the project coordinator, emphasized the scientific innovation at the heart of AshforFuture, stating that the project will leverage cutting-edge research in genetics, pathology, and silviculture to deliver practical solutions for the forestry sector. Through collaboration with stakeholders in Ireland and beyond, the project aims to advance the restoration of ash trees in the Irish landscape, offering a wide array of associated benefits.
The collaborative model adopted by AshforFuture aims to ensure that the project’s findings and solutions can be effectively translated into actionable measures on the ground, benefiting not only Ireland but also other countries grappling with ash dieback.
