Data from: Integrating regulatory surveys and citizen science to map outbreaks of forest diseases: acute oak decline in England and Wales

The number of emerging tree diseases has increased rapidly in recent
times, with severe environmental and economic consequences. Systematic
regulatory surveys to detect and establish the distribution of pests are
crucial for successful management efforts, but resource intensive and
costly. Volunteers who identify potential invasive species can form an
important early warning network in tree health, however, what these data
can tell us and how they can be best used to inform and direct official
survey effort is not clear. Here we use an extensive dataset on Acute Oak
Decline (AOD) as an opportunity to ask how verified data received from the
public can be utilised. Information on the distribution of AOD was
available as (i) systematic regulatory surveys conducted throughout
England and Wales (ii) ad-hoc sightings reported by land owners, land
managers and members of the public (i.e. ‘self-reported’ cases). By using
the available self-reported cases at the design stage the systematic
survey could focus on defining the boundaries of the affected area. This
maximised the use of available resources and highlights the benefits to be
gained by developing strategies to enhance volunteer efforts in future
programs.