DieBack Alert!

Dieback front in Banksia coccinea

ONE MILLION HECTARES OF WA’S SOUTH WEST INFESTED WITH DIEBACK

While the world debates the  broader issues of climate change and global warming, entire ecological communities in this region are under dire threat from the devastation of Phytophthora Dieback.
Formerly known as Jarrah Dieback,  Phythophthora cinnamomi, has created environmental havoc throughout large tracts of land in the south west of the state, especially in  high rainfall areas which are most vulnerable to its deadly impact.

Dieback Map

Maps released by the Project Dieback team, along with their natural resource management partners, have confirmed  that massive areas of bushland, numerous species of native flora and unique areas of biodiversity have already been devastated by this insidious introduced soil micro-organism.

Project manager Dr Joanna Young recently announced  that four million hectares of remnant bush and the conservation estate from Eneabba to Esperance had been assessed for dieback occurrence using ground observation, aerial photography and remote sensoring.
“The team projects that in the order of one million hectares have been infested in the wetter areas of the south west,” she said. “Another million hectares is also at high risk of infestation.”

P.cinnamomi  is a pathogen that is distributed through soil, and kills a large

Dieback in Banksia at Lucky Bay

range of native plants by destroying the root system. This in turn puts at risk the habitats and food sources of many endangered animal species, thus creating one of the biggest environmental threats to biodiversity in the south west.  Nearly 80 percent of plant species in the south west of WA are unique to this part of the world.

Up to of 40% of  plant species and wildflowers susceptible, with  25 species of our  iconic banksias threatened with extinction.  Horticultural and domestic plants such as avocados, proteas and pines are also affected.
“The unique ecosystem of the Stirling Ranges is riddled with dieback and the future of certain plant species is uncertain,” Dr Young said. “Some south coast plant species will only survive in the wild if the Fitzgerald River National Park remains free of the the extensive Phythophthora dieback infestation.”  

 

Banksia coccinea

Dr Young said that dieback posed a greater risk to the state’s biodiversity than the cane toad and urgent action was needed to slow its spread.
“There is currently no known cure for dieback, and in some cases recovery from the disease is costly and not feasible. The best method we have is to protect areas of bushland not currently infested,” Dr Young said.  “Greater community awareness and participation is also essential in the management and containment of the disease.”

Although the deadly disease can be transferred from plant to plant and through water, humans are the greatest cuplrits when it comes to spreading the pathogen as they move soil, gravel and plant material around the state. Dieback can also be spread through pot plants.

Project Dieback is a Western Australian natural resource management initiative led by South Coast NRM Inc and is currently funded through State and Commonwealth governments. The project has produced a series of maps depicting the extent of dieback and will be used as tools in the fight to stop its spread. A full list of native plants susceptible to dieback has also been compiled.

Fitzgerald Nation Park Banksia baxterii

CEO of South Coast NRM Rob Edkins reinforced the importance of the a multi-pronged approach taken by the project partners and reiterated Dr Young’s call for ongoing funding.
“Our over-arching goal is for communities, local governments and government agencies to be well informed about the threat of Phytophthora Dieback,” Mr Edkins said. “We are also working closely with our partners and stakeholders to develop simple and practical management strategies to contain existing infestations and prevent new ones. To continue to do this we need adequate resources and support.”

For further information go to www.dieback.org.au
If you see dead or dying bushland please contact your local office of Department of Environment and Conservation or contact South Coast NRM Inc on 98458537
And remember – Mud Sticks – Don’t Spread It!