Nature’s best friend! Sniffer dog detects tree disease to help protect nation’s woodlands

Detection dogs have been used in the UK for the first time to successfully identify tree disease helping track down the deadly tree pathogen Phytophthora ramorum

In collaboration with the UK's Forest Research, Canine Assisted Pest Eradication successfully trained Ivor, a cocker spaniel x labrador, aged six, to identify the highly destructive pathogen. This destructive organism  can cause extensive damage and even death to more than 150 plant species including significant mortality on larch, which are important timber trees.

Ivor was trained using a variety of detection training techniques including initial scent recognition. The first round saw Ivor successfully identify Phytophthora ramorum in soil, plant material and sterile distilled water. Further training phases saw Ivor faced with a number of scenarios which helped reinforce his detection abilities by introducing new working environments. Ivor was then able to build up to distinguishing Phytophthora ramorum from the scent of other Phytophthora species often found in the same environments to ensure effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

The damage to our trees, woods and forests from pests and diseases is significant, with the rapid increase in movements of goods and people between countries and climate change increasing the risk of spread in recent years, and this is the latest government innovation in the fight to protect our nation's trees and woodlands.

 The UK's Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:

“This groundbreaking research using detection dogs to identify Phytophthora ramorum, alongside other innovative approaches to tackle pests and diseases, will play a key role in maintaining biosecurity to meet the vision set out in our world-leading Plant Biosecurity Strategy.”

 “Climate change and globalisation are increasing the number and the diversity of pests and diseases our nation's trees and plants are exposed to. These new threats can cause significant damage, economic losses and in many cases tree death.

Dr Heather Dun, Forest Research Pathologist at the UK's government's world-leading Forest Research organisation, said:

“The results from the trials have been incredibly encouraging, with a first-time 89 per cent detection rate highlighting the huge potential of dogs in our fight against pests and diseases.”

            “Biosecurity is incredibly important and detection dogs like Ivor are an exciting new method for helping to protect our trees.”

Detection dogs have previously been to tackle the outbreak of the Asian longhorn beetle pest in Paddock Wood, Kent, in 2012, where a team of dogs from the Austrian Plant Health Inspectorate successfully helped to detect the beetle.

Following the success of the initial trials, Forest Research is now exploring the use of detection dogs to help combat other pests and diseases such as Ips typographus, also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, fulfilling commitments set out in the GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Images from the project attached to this press notice. Further images from the project are available on request.
• The project is a collaboration between Forest Research and Canine Assisted Pest Eradication.
• Canine Assisted Pest Eradication Director Luke Jones said: “We believe that innovation drives progress. We're passionate about discovering the potential of detection dogs who are one of nature's ‘super-computers'.”
• Canine Assisted Pest Eradication have also collaborated with Forest Research on insect proof of concept projects, testing dogs' ability to detect Great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans) and, more recently, Emerald Ash Borer beetle.
• The initial training phase focused on reinforcing spanador Ivor's ability to recognize Phytophthora ramorum in pond water, a new substrate introduced in this phase to simulate natural conditions, contrasting with the sterile distilled water used in the previous study.
• Ivor's behaviour was monitored to see if it can differentiate between target and non-target scents, and no cues were provided during this phase.
• The 89% detection rate was across 10 tests, which saw Phytophthora ramorum found in varied mediums like water, soil and plant material despite the presence of other scents.
• The report is available in full on Forest Research's website.
• More information about Phytophthora ramorum is available on Forest Research's website.
• The Plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028) is available on GOV.UK.

About Forest Research:

• Forest Research is Great Britain's principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research and is internationally renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services in support of sustainable forestry.