More than 27,000 of the area's trees are already in the poorest condition category, and work over the next 20 years is expected to cost up to £9 million.
Tens of thousands of trees across South Lanarkshire will have to be felled over the next two decades due to the impact of ash dieback disease.
Trees have been categorised into four groups according to health, with nearly 27,000 being rated in the poorest condition category of having less than 25 per cent canopy cover remaining, and a further 20,000 having less than half of their healthy foliage – meaning that already “viability is questioned” for nearly a third of all of the area’s ash trees.
“We have developed an ash dieback disease action plan to help us to tackle this issue head on. A key element is replacing the lost ash trees with appropriate native tree species which will protect and enhance the landscape and ecosystem.” It adds: “Ash is an important species not all ash trees will need to be felled. Some will be tolerant to ADD and it is important that these are retained; trees affected can provide valuable habitats for fungi, invertebrates, birds and small mammals and where it is safe to do so, consideration should be given to retaining declining trees for as long as possible.”
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