Trend Tree and plant imports raising risk of pests like ash dieback

Summary

The report expects that growing imports of trees and outdoor plants could raise the chance of bringing in pests like ash dieback and oak processionary moth. International trade and travel serve as routes for pests and pose a constant threat to plant health. The report judges that changing consumer demand and rising trade into the UK make new non-native pests more likely to appear. From a supply chain angle, less reliable imported produce and shifting pathways could also increase the risk of pest entry. Ash dieback, which already threatens a tree linked to more than 950 UK species, shows why managing import routes matters.