Yesterday ‘Science Alert’ published a great article on recent world-first research by The ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions & The Australian National University in Canberra. The research recommended Councils & residents planting native trees instead of exotics to save native birds.
Marrickville Council’s recently published Tree Inventory found that over 42% of the street tree population is provided by only 5 species. This can’t be good for not only native birds, but also flying foxes either. I doubt that it is the norm for native trees to be planted on private property in Marrickville LGA, so this puts even more pressure on birds to find sufficient food.
The researchers found that –
- Suburbs with more than 30% native street trees have 11% more bird species of all types than those with exotic street trees.
- With the exception of native birds that avoid urban areas, a significantly higher number of bird species – both feral & native – were found in suburbs with more than 30% of Eucalyptus trees.
- Parks with large eucalypts (trunk diameter over a metre) had up to three times the number of bird species than parks with smaller trees. – “So instead of removing these old trees, we can prune them, create zones or put up safety warnings.” Note: 69% of public trees across Marrickville municipality have been found to be “too old” by the recently completed Tree Inventory, meaning it will soon be time for them to be removed. “We can also proactively plan for future large trees, so that the younger can replace the over-mature ones. In addition, these trees can be given greater legislative protection,” the researchers say.”
- While exotic trees are most popular choices in current street tree plans because they provide winter sun they have a negative impact on native birdlife.
To read this excellent article, click here – http://bit.ly/PPni8R They also have the link to the abstract.
3 comments
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November 16, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Helayne
I agree we need to insist Council plants a greater variety of trees, shrubs, vines and grasses etc, in our community areas.
I read your report yesterday and find questionable that Councils report say so many trees are too old and need removing. I need to read this report, as I thought many gums didn’t reach maturity until they were 50-70 years old, even then why cut them down?
I was told by a Councilor that trees only lasted about 20 years? What? We must be planting the wrong trees then!
And I agree that many Councils work around trees to keep them; whilst I do not want people falling over broken footpaths (there are many in our area) I do not want to see every paper bark in Marrickville LGA cut down…and replaced with some of those weird looking trees that only grow 2-3 metres high. Hardly what I call a tree.
This is Australia, we are supposed to have tall gums….aren’t we? Planted in appropriate places, yes.
November 17, 2012 at 7:12 pm
whimsicat
i hope our councillors, and council staff, read this report. the previous article about the recent Marrickville tree survey was so so very depressing .
November 21, 2012 at 10:03 pm
brenda
I would like to see a greater variety of trees in the LGA and can not understand why council seems to plant trees and then remove them to make way for concrete or newer smaller trees.
The Illawarra Flame Tree is absolutely magnificent: so vibrant and colourful. Why can’t there be more native street trees and more than 5 species of trees planted in the LGA?