This policy guidance document outlines the ways to reduce the risks from Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) when planting in Caledonian pinewoods.

The previous Action Plan for DNB contains a presumption against planting any pine species within the 600 m buffer zone around existing core CPI sites. However, it is recognised that in some exceptional circumstances planting of native Scots pine will be considered. This guidance clarifies the circumstances where planting will be considered and explains the procedures that will need to be followed before and after planting to eliminate as far as practicable the risk of different strains of DNB being introduced.