Chestnut trees under threat of extinction in Belarus (photo)
A parasite moth has destroyed nearly all chestnut trees. While Europe uses injections to fight the moth, Belarus is lagging behind due to bureaucracy and a lack of funding. The moth has finally reached Belarus, putting chestnut trees under threat of extinction. Alyaksandr Kavalevich, director of the Homel-based Forestry Institute, told European Radio for Belarus that when conducting a research last year they hoped that chestnut leaves had been damaged by fungus but had to admit the moth had reached us.
The horse chestnout leaf miner definitely affects trees and eventually the environment in cities by increasing air pollution, soil acidity, etc.. Apart from these factors, the moth has put chestnut trees on the verge of extinction. Maples and lime-trees also are under threat.
Forestry specialist in Europe has fought the moth for almost 15 years, using special injections for trees. But, one Poland-made doze costs around $20. One tree needs to be injected several times. It appears to be too expensive for Belrus. That's why specialists in Homel propose to cut sick trees and to plant new ones.
However, he admits this method will not help so much. But, since there is no money, fallen leaves from sick trees should be collected and burned, because the parasite winters in those leaves.
Ukraine is facing the same problem, but their specialists say it is better to inject than cut trees. However, it is a difficult task, because it is very difficult to calculate the exact number of sick trees in order to get funding from the authorities.
In Belarus, bureaucracy is the problem, Alena Hasanava from Minskzelenstroy told European Radio for Belarus. "We have a very limited list of medicines that can be applied in residential areas. It's very time-consuming to expand this list. It's a long story. Special scientific and production programs are required", she said.
Since there is no Poland-made injection to fight the moth on the list, it is not used.
Horse Chestnut leaf miner — Cameraria ohridella.
The Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner was first observed in Macedonia in northern Greece in the late 1970's, and was described as a new species of the genus Cameraria in 1986. In 1989, it appeared unexpectedly in Austria and has since spread throughout central and eastern Europe. Its current distribution includes Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, southern Sweden, all of Germany, Poland and the central European countries, and it is currently spreading west through France and south through Italy. Since 2002 it has been reported from Spain, Albania, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and western Russia.
Cameraria ohridella was first found established in the UK in the London Borough of Wimbledon in July 2002. Leaf mines with larvae were present in high densities on horse-chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) along the southern edge of Wimbledon Common, and in nearby streets and gardens, which suggested that the first moths had arrived in either 2000 or 2001. From this initial area of infestation, the moth has spread rapidly, and it is now present across most of south-central England, East Anglia and the Midlands. The current distribution (November 2006) extends to Wells on the north Norfolk coast, and to Derby, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Somerset, 190-230 km from the site of the original infestation. The rate of spread in the UK (40-60 km/year) is similar to that seen on the continent.
Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk
The horse chestnout leaf miner definitely affects trees and eventually the environment in cities by increasing air pollution, soil acidity, etc.. Apart from these factors, the moth has put chestnut trees on the verge of extinction. Maples and lime-trees also are under threat.
Forestry specialist in Europe has fought the moth for almost 15 years, using special injections for trees. But, one Poland-made doze costs around $20. One tree needs to be injected several times. It appears to be too expensive for Belrus. That's why specialists in Homel propose to cut sick trees and to plant new ones.
However, he admits this method will not help so much. But, since there is no money, fallen leaves from sick trees should be collected and burned, because the parasite winters in those leaves.
Ukraine is facing the same problem, but their specialists say it is better to inject than cut trees. However, it is a difficult task, because it is very difficult to calculate the exact number of sick trees in order to get funding from the authorities.
In Belarus, bureaucracy is the problem, Alena Hasanava from Minskzelenstroy told European Radio for Belarus. "We have a very limited list of medicines that can be applied in residential areas. It's very time-consuming to expand this list. It's a long story. Special scientific and production programs are required", she said.
Since there is no Poland-made injection to fight the moth on the list, it is not used.
Horse Chestnut leaf miner — Cameraria ohridella.
The Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner was first observed in Macedonia in northern Greece in the late 1970's, and was described as a new species of the genus Cameraria in 1986. In 1989, it appeared unexpectedly in Austria and has since spread throughout central and eastern Europe. Its current distribution includes Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, southern Sweden, all of Germany, Poland and the central European countries, and it is currently spreading west through France and south through Italy. Since 2002 it has been reported from Spain, Albania, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and western Russia.
Cameraria ohridella was first found established in the UK in the London Borough of Wimbledon in July 2002. Leaf mines with larvae were present in high densities on horse-chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) along the southern edge of Wimbledon Common, and in nearby streets and gardens, which suggested that the first moths had arrived in either 2000 or 2001. From this initial area of infestation, the moth has spread rapidly, and it is now present across most of south-central England, East Anglia and the Midlands. The current distribution (November 2006) extends to Wells on the north Norfolk coast, and to Derby, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Somerset, 190-230 km from the site of the original infestation. The rate of spread in the UK (40-60 km/year) is similar to that seen on the continent.
Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk
