The status of the ash tree in Sweden is critical. Since the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was introduced to Eastern Europe in the mid-1990s, the European ash population has declined dramatically. As the fungus spreads through airborne spores, it is virtually impossible to contain.
The disease is known as ash dieback, as H. fraxineus typically infects the shoots first before spreading into the trunk. If the ash tree were to disappear from Sweden, the consequences for biodiversity would be severe.
The research programme “Save the Ash” is examining every aspect of safeguarding the species for the future – from disease biology to sustainable forest management. The project is now turning to the only (currently known) long-term method of preserving ash populations: breeding for improved resistance.
And you can contribute to this vital work.
