There are many things in Ireland that I would love to yap about, such as the rich folklore of the fae that is kept up in rural villages, or even the fairly recent addition of coffee culture as a byproduct of Southern European and western influence. Right now, though, I would like to instead yap about Ireland’s current ecological crisis, that being the ash dieback disease that is decimating the population of native ash trees across the island.
To preface this current crisis, one should understand the forestry and circumstances of Ireland. As Ireland and regions of Scotland would be considered a celtic rainforest due to the population of trees and temperate climate, especially considering the ever present mists that linger just the cranberries song. Ireland specifically lost over 80% of its woodlands due to British colonialism, as the trees were cut and used for British trade or ship building–and this new land was reconfigured for agricultural purposes. Which brings us to the current state of Ireland at the moment, which remains largely unchanged as pastures and grazing fields despite contemporary reforestation efforts. While living in Ireland, I have noted this firsthand through the scarcity of dense forestry that I am acquainted with in the states, as it seems as though the trees have been largely replaced by herds of sheep or cows. Though one could find these dense forests in pockets of areas or concentrated around the mountainous national parks, like the Wicklow mountains south of Dublin. In understanding the extent of these trees and how they pale in comparison to verdant pastures of livestock, the current crisis in mind concerns a tree that was imported to Ireland as part of the reforestation effort.
The non-native trees among Ireland exist for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones within discussion is achieving a healthy biodiversity and reforestation of the land. In which American redwoods are introduced among other pines, and even ornamental trees such as the monkey puzzle trees find their ways into the Irish landscape. The concerns of the ash tree and its current crisis arise from the fact that it is native, yet the demand for reforestation and biodiversity necessitated the tree to be sourced outside of Ireland. Through the transferring of the tree between countries, ashe dieback was ultimately introduced and spread through the population of Irish ash trees. Ash dieback is an infection exclusive to the ash tree, yet transferable between these trees as an airborne or physical pathogen. The effects of the disease weaken and often largely kill the tree itself, leaving behind a wake of dead and dying trees in Irish forests. The effect of the disease is remarkably seen through the roots of the trees turning brittle, which then creates a large vulnerability to both the tree and everything surrounding it. I have seen this loss of biodiversity firsthand in the wake of Storm Éowyn, through a windforce above 80 mph many of these ash trees were uprooted and dead. It was a bleak site to see accompanied by a week’s worth of rainfall, with the famous ash trees threatened to be wiped out in Ireland.
Though, there is an ambivalent hope in the crisis, being that Ireland had previously dealt with dieback disease specific to different trees–in which these trees had grown immunity in different parts of the world and were subsequently used to bolster immunity in Ireland. This notion of preservation had been seen before with a few instances of local ash trees gaining immunity to the dieback disease, and yet this was ultimately set back by Storm Éowyn through the deaths of many of these trees. While the situation seems to be in decline, it should be noted that there is still a fighting chance through sourcing this immunity from other European countries–a widely supported and tested notion. Yet, many of the locals are skeptical of the timing surrounding the government’s actions in response to the issue and the effects of Éowyn. A local man regarded the issue, “We know we can fix it, because we have dealt with it before. We just don’t know when the government will get to it, cause it is one of many ecological problems we have.”
I had the pleasure of talking to many locals about the situation at hand, and it’s often regarded with a passion for the restoration and preservation of this tree–and by proxy the native Irish culture. Trees are vastly important and cultural subjects within Ireland, relating not only to the folklore that surrounds them but also the history of the island. Where there is a long-standing connection to nature and its personable affects, of which I would say is represented well by the ancient Irish poem “Scribe in The Woods” or even many tales of folklore that emphasize the personalities of nature in companionship to man. Through investing myself in this culture, I would also say that I am passionate about the reforestation and preservation of these trees, and that despite the bleak depictions of the crisis, there is still a fighting spirit among the Irish. I’ve seen this spirit firsthand through many encounters and conversations, specifically some of those held during reforestation efforts–in which I feel the best way to know someone is by planting lots of trees with them. Ultimately, there is still hope at the end of the day.
Featured image by Ving N on Unsplash.
