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<p>We are monitoring and managing ash dieback and have invested over £4 million into
surveillance and research.</p><p> </p><p>Our surveillance programme involving Government,
industry, conservation groups and the public, enables us to monitor the disease and
to target resources effectively.</p><p> </p><p>Investing in research on the development
of tolerant trees is one of our key commitments in response to the disease. Ash trees
have a very wide genetic diversity and have the potential for great levels of resistance
compared to other tree species that have been affected by diseases.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government-funded research and screening trial of 155,000 ash saplings is unprecedented
in its scope. It has now identified native ash trees that show tolerance to ash dieback,
raising the possibility of using selective breeding to develop strains of trees that
are tolerant to the disease.</p>
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