The cost to the UK of the ash dieback disease has been estimated at £ 15bn ( $ 19.6bn ) in a report by Dr Louise Smith , a plant sciences researcher at the University of Oxford . The outbreak will affect hardwood industries , biodiversity and forestry , the Forestry Commission has said . Co - author of the report Dr Nick Atkinson from the Woodland Trust " said local authorities are likely to be responsible for covering most of the UK but have insufficient resources to do so .
The cost to the UK of the ash dieback disease has been estimated at £ 15bn ( $ 19.6bn ) in a report by Dr Louise Smith , a plant sciences researcher at the University of Oxford . The outbreak will affect hardwood industries , biodiversity and forestry , the Forestry Commission has said . Co - author of the report Dr Nick Atkinson from the Woodland Trust said local authorities are likely to be responsible for covering most of the UK but have insufficient resources to do so .