athel pine & tamarix threats, management and action january 2012
DESCRIPTION
Kay Bailey National Athel Pine Coordinator. Athel Pine & Tamarix Threats, Management and Action January 2012. Athel pine, Bourke Golf Course 2009. Menindie. Overview. National Athel Pine WoNS Program Identification – 3 species Impacts Management – control options What you can do!. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Athel Pine & TamarixThreats, Management and Action
January 2012
Kay Bailey National Athel Pine Coordinator
Menindie Athel pine, Bourke Golf Course 2009
Overview
• National Athel Pine WoNS Program• Identification – 3 species• Impacts• Management – control options• What you can do!
T. ramosissima, Nyah VIC
Weeds of National Significance• The Australian Weed Strategy (AWS) (renamed from the 1997
National Weeds Strategy in 2007) is a multi jurisdictional framework
• Goal 2 of the AWS is to ‘Reduce the impact of existing priority weed problems including weeds issues of national significance - WoNS
• Approach – is robust and simple; treats agricultural, forestry & environmental weeds equally to rank species
• In 1999, 20 species became WoNS• Australian Government + all States / Territories are
supportive of and contribute to WoNS program• Potential addition of new WoNS in 2012
National Athel Pine Program
• 1999 one of the 20 species declared Weeds of National Significance• 2001 Athel pine National Strategy released (included other Tamarix species)• Nov 2005 National Athel Pine Management
Committee (NAPMC) formed• Dec 2006 National Coordinator appointed Full Time • March 2009 launch of Athel pine National
Best Practice Management Manual • Draft National Athel Pine Strategic Plan 2011-2015
(awaiting endorsement)
Athel pine Finke River NT
Launch of BPM Manual, Alice Springs 2009
NAPMC field trip, Mannum SA March 2011
Identification• 3 Tamarix species in Australia
Tamarix aphylla Athel pine Tamarix ramosissima TamariskTamarix parviflora Smallflower tamarisk
• Common names vary. Athel pine = Tamarix = Tamarisk.
• Varying taxonomy over time (eg Tamarix pentandra = T ramosissima)
Tools to assist• Fact Sheet• BPM Manual pages 10-11
1. Athel pine – Tamarix aphylla• Tall evergreen tree (to 20m)• Riparian - watercourses• Weedy from Carnarvon WA to Bourke NSW; Central Australia
to Hughenden QLD; Menindee NSW to Leigh Creek SA
Athel pine planted as a wind break – Copi Hollow, Menindee, NSW 2009
Athel pineDeclared in all states, WoNS
Chris
Bro
wn
Les
Tann
er
Les
Tann
er
Kay
Baile
yFlowers pinkish-white, 5 flower petals, flower spikes at end of previous year’s branches.
Leaves aphylla = without leaves, minute dull grey, sheath around fine branchlets.
Bark mature trees thick, rough grey-brown to black, new stems smooth and reddish-brown to grey-green.
2. Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)No legal status. Weedy in southern, inland NSW,
Murray River SA, northern VIC.
Sand
y Le
ight
on
Sand
y Le
ight
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Jona
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ould
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Tall deciduous to semi-deciduous shrub to 6mFlowers pinkish-white to purple, 5 petals, end of current year’s branches
Leaves small, smooth surface, evenly thick from base to tip
T. ramosissima along the edge of Lake Murphy, VIC
Bark smooth, older stems grey-brown, newer stems reddish-brown
3. Smallflower tamarisk (T. parviflora)No legal status. Weedy in Avon Valley & south west WA.
Tom Dudley
Sand
y Le
ight
on
Barr
y A
Ric
e
Toodyay River WA
Flower pinkish-white, 4 petalsLeaves distinctly thickened
toward the base
Bark new bark is brown-deep purple
Weedy throughout riparian areas of western and south western USA
Recorded Distribution All Tamarix species in Australia
ImpactsWhy are we focussing on athel pine and Tamarix?
• Increased surface soil salinity - reduction in native vegetation- expansion at expense of most other vegetation
• Reduced water quality• Reduced water quantity
– 1 athel pine or Tamarix plant can use up to 757 litres/day– Reduced availability for stock, people, environment
• Accelerated rusting of roofs, gutters, fences, buildings• Increased mustering costs
(X 6 compared to clear areas)• Reduced biodiversity of native plants &
animals• Flooding & alteration of watercourses
with accumulated sediment.
Examples of areas of major impact:
• 620 km of the Finke River system NT has been invaded by athel pine
• USA -10 species of Tamarix. (1920’s 4,000 ha; mid-1960s 500,000 ha;current - 1,000,000 ha and still spreading)
• Murray River system increasing spread and reporting of weedy Tamarix ramosissima over the past 2-3 years.
How can we control athel pine & Tamarix spp?
• Understand life cycle and spread– Grows near water– Prolific seeders– Seed is viable for short period only– Need wet conditions to establish– Vegetative propagation is a significant means
of local spread
• Plan control effort by knowing– Likely costs– Resources required– Location & density of the athel pine(BPM Manual p20-22)
Extensive recruitment of athel pine along banks of Gascoyne River, Carnarvon WA
Mechanical clearing
Best for large infestations or isolated trees where machinery available.
•Remove crown & taproot to at least 1m depth
•Follow up regrowth with herbicides
Chris
Bro
wn
Chris
Bro
wn
Mechanical clearing
Jona
h G
ould
thor
pe
Jona
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ould
thor
pe
YES
NO
Chemical - Herbicides•Herbicide control of Tamarix spp. is fickle
•Need everything in your favour
•Comply with permits, labels and control-of-use legislation
•The BPM Manual (pages 27-29) contains lists of permitted herbicides for each control option & State
Foliar spray
Best for extensive seedlings & regrowth <3m and following up regrowth after mechanical control•Good clean water
•Use wetter
•Good coverage
•Minimum 1 metre regrowth from roots
•Leave sprayed plants for 12 months
Basal barkUseful for small inaccessible infestations, smooth-barked <10cm, any time of year.
•Smooth-barked individuals only
•Clear sediment and debris from stems
Cut stumpUseful for small, inaccessible infestations & sites for selective control
•Cut low and level
•Treat stump within 30 seconds
Other control options
• Stem injection / frilling • Hand pulling• Flooding• Biocontrol
– dieback
Mount Isa QLD
Lower Finke R, NT
Gemfields QLD
Follo
w-u
p m
etho
dPr
imar
y m
etho
dRe
sult
Basal bark or foliar spray
Section 2.4.3
Long term eradication
Cut StumpSection 2.4.3
Decision support tree for Tamarix control (p32 BPM Manual)
Monitor and basal bark, cut stump or foliar spray regrowth at 1 m height
N Y
N
Stems >10 cm thick or with rough
bark
More than 10 mature
plants?
Is there good access
for/availability of machinery?
N
Monitor and basal bark, cut stump or foliar spray regrowth at 12-18 month intervals
Mechanical clearing
Section 2.4.2
Seedlings <45 cm tall
only?
Hand pull Section 2.4.4
Cut StumpSection 2.4.3
Replace with local provenance plants as appropriate
Remove debris from flood zone if practicable
Section 2.4.1
Y
N Y
Remove debris from flood zone if practicableSection 2.4.1
Stems >10 cm thick or with rough
barkBasal bark or foliar spray
Section 2.4.3
YN
Y
Clean down vehicles and machinery on site Section 2.4.1
Success factors• Planning• Persistence• Monitoring• Adaptive, integrated approach using a number
of methods• Duration of follow up required.
Regrowth following use of cut stump on athel pines, Menindee School, NSW.
What you can do!
• Look out for high risk plantings (<100m from watercourse, towns, homesteads, bores, stockyards, etc)
• Record plants using GPS and take photos• Record & report weedy populations
([email protected])• Lodge specimens at the Herbarium• Plan to remove athel pines over time.
Local and Regional ActionYour group, local government agency or regional body
could:- Provide identification and awareness information to
members / stakeholders;- Encourage mapping and recording of athel pine and
other Tamarix species;- Identify those at a higher risk of spread;- Develop an action plan to remove over time those
higher risk plants and those that have already become weedy;
- Provide the mapping information to the National Athel Pine Coordinator or Weed Contacts in each State.
Comments & Questions?
Further contact:08 89519213
[email protected]/WoNS/athelpine
Prevent this scenario! Dense athel pine infestation on the lower Finke River, NT