Spatial risk analysis for Phytophthora pluvialis infection of Douglas fir and western hemlock in Scotland
https://doi.org/10.5285/921fcc2e-7491-4058-a21b-3d1de0be1507
Cite this dataset as:
Barwell, L.J.; Turvey, K.; Amankwaa, G.; Asaaga, F.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Mitchell, R.; Purse, B.V. (2025). Spatial risk analysis for Phytophthora pluvialis infection of Douglas fir and western hemlock in Scotland. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/921fcc2e-7491-4058-a21b-3d1de0be1507
Download/Access
PLEASE NOTE:
By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
This dataset maps the risks of Phytophthora pluvialis infection for 11098 forest fragments in Scotland identified as containing the known hosts Douglas fir or western hemlock. Key risk factors and their scoring were agreed with 15 cross-sectoral stakeholders through a self-completion survey and two workshops. Fragment risk scores integrate climate suitability and proximity to other fragments/infected sites, recent planting of these hosts (forestry grant schemes), inspected premises and water courses. Infections of P. pluvialis have been reported on Douglas fir and Western hemlock in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Wales and Scotland since the outbreak was first detected in 2021. Outside of the UK, pine species (Pinus radiata, P. strobus, P. patula) are also susceptible to the pathogen. The scored fragment data were intersected with the boundaries of conservancies, local authorities and active P. pluvialis demarcated areas to summarise the distribution of risks across regions in Scotland.
Publication date: 2025-10-22
View numbers valid from 22 October 2025 Download numbers valid from 22 October 2025 (information prior to this was not collected)
Formats
TIFF, geopackage
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation types
Vector
Raster
Raster
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Provenance & quality
We employed an iterative and collaborative co-production process that brought together stakeholders with diverse expertise from across Scotland’s plant health sector including forestry, conservation, horticulture, and government agencies. The distributions of Douglas fir and western hemlock fragments in Scotland were mapped using the National Forest Estate Subcompartments 2019 and the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland. This was supplemented with Scottish Forestry Phytophthora surveillance data and Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) since 2013 and detections on Douglas fir or western hemlock in a global Phytophthora database. Felled areas since 2013 were removed using the National Forest Inventory. Key risk factors and their scoring were agreed with 15 cross-sectoral stakeholders through a self-completion survey and two workshops. The consensus among workshop participants was for climate suitability to be the primary risk factor. The final report was peer reviewed by the Plant Health Centre. In addition, a knowledge integration and validation workshop (November 13, 2024) examined the adequacy of the outputs for horizon scanning and decision-making across sectors. Validation of the climate suitability models for other Phytophthora species has been attempted using independent UK and European detections.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Cite this dataset as:
Barwell, L.J.; Turvey, K.; Amankwaa, G.; Asaaga, F.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Mitchell, R.; Purse, B.V. (2025). Spatial risk analysis for Phytophthora pluvialis infection of Douglas fir and western hemlock in Scotland. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/921fcc2e-7491-4058-a21b-3d1de0be1507
Related
Correspondence/contact details
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1643-1046 Other contacts
Rights holder
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
Keywords
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/V019813/1
Scotland's Plant Health Centre Award: PHC2023/02
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Award: TH12224FR10
Scotland's Plant Health Centre Award: PHC2023/02
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Award: TH12224FR10