First-ever Ash dieback conference to take place tomorrow in Tipperary

Famers and woodland owners from all over Ireland will meet tomorrow, Saturday March 25 in Thurles for the first Ash dieback conference held in Ireland.

Ash Dieback 2023 is organised by woodland owners for woodland owners. This conference will see farmers from around the country talking about the devastation of ash dieback and debating proposals for how to recover from it.

Speakers include representatives from Teagasc, the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Forestry Owners association, affected woodland owners, forestry contractors and scientific experts.

There will also be ample time for questions and debate from the audience. The conference has been organised by Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners (LTWO) and will be held at the Dome, Semple stadium Thurles on Saturday March 25.

“We desperately need to plant more trees to combat climate change and we need more broadleaf trees to increase biodiversity," said LTWO Chairman Simon White.

"Yet almost all 123 million ash trees in Ireland are doomed because of ash dieback. This is causing devastation to the environment, to the woodland owners who stand to lose decades of investment and is making prospective woodland owners very reluctant to plant trees.

"But we also want to look to the future and discuss solutions to this problem. So I am delighted that we have a range of speakers who will tackle this problem from many different angles."

The conference will start at 10am and attendance is free. For more information and to register go to  www.ashdieback2023.com.