Feral Trees Killing Native Bees

[Fred123]

An article regarding feral African Tulip trees killing native bees.

Hobbyist beekeeper creates map to track tree killing native stingless bees

There are a great many of them growing in our region along with tobacco bush, lantana, Singapore Daisy and numerous other feral pest plants.

When crossing over Babinda Creek on the highway, the banks are completely overgrown with Singapore Daisy.

Rubber vine and lantana growing next to a major arterial intersection in Cairns.

The Government Departments and the Council do not seem the least bit interested in controlling feral plants on Crown lands despite what they state to landholders.

singapore-daisy.pdf

restricted-invasive-plants.pdf

Just another case of do as we say, not as we do?

[catsatararat]

In rural Vic here and have the same problem with local and State govt.

[mark_m]

@Fred123

The Government Departments and the Council do not seem the least bit interested in controlling feral plants on Crown lands despite what they state to landholders.

Answer:
A/ because it’s too expensive
B/ because govt allowed the invasive plants to be introduced
C/ because the invasive plants are valuable to forestry or agriculture
D/ because native flora and fauna don’t vote.
E/ all of the above

I made Answer D up. We all know flora and fauna can’t vote.

P.S.
Each state government and many local governments have recommendations on which invasive species present the greatest local risks. They may also include advice on how to best control.

EG
Considering @Fred123 pickup in the opening post, DAF Qld has the following on African Tulip tree control.

african-tulip-tree.pdf

Note for restrictions on the use of the recommended herbicides first consult your individual state and council. The use of herbicides must also be in accordance with the latest APVMA permit.

For anyone concerned with the use of herbicides, African Tulip trees sucker profusely from cut stumps and all peripheral roots. Each seed pod delivers hundreds of wind spread feathery seeds. New seedlings pull up readily by hand from soft ground. The tap root will reshoot if left behind.

Mature trees are extremely difficult to eliminate without a herbicide that is absorbed into the plant. The tap roots (multiple can be metres deep). The side roots can reach tens of metres in all directions with numerous divisions. Every last piece needs to be dug up if removing by hand. A root piece left in ground less than a few millimetres in section is all it needs to grow again.

It also explains why so called green herbicides, flame burning etc are ineffective on many exotic invasive weeds. None destroy the roots which store plant energy for future regrowth.

[Fred123]

The one good thing about cyclones is that they absolutely flatten African Tulip trees.

[phb]

@mark_m

Answer:
A/ because it’s too expensive
B/ because govt allowed the invasive plants to be introduced
C/ because the invasive plants are valuable to forestry or agriculture
D/ because native flora and fauna don’t vote.
E/ all of the above

A lot of the problems is government is very good at acquiring land for conservation or infrastructure purposes…and its portfolio of land is ever increasing. What they don’t do then is provide sufficient budgets to manage the land.

Politically saying the government has XYZ hectares of land and acquired ABC hectares in the past year sounds better than they spent $GHI on maintenance. Maintenance is seen as ‘dead’ money politically.