Habitat Trees

Brother Colin · 5th February 2007, 11:59 PM

Last year ekka helped me post an article from a local paper about how the local council is saving some old and dead trees for habitat trees. ( Are you able to find that article ekka? )

The other day I found one of those trees in a park near my house. Here are some photos.

Ekka · 6th February 2007, 12:39 AM

Ask and you will receive. Clipping attached.

Now with that first pic Colin the tree has been hatracked for habitat etc .... but the concern is the maintenance on it. If it epicormics up and the fluff has to be pollarded off every two years it's gonna cost a bit.

So some suggest poisoning the tree so it's a dead habitat tree.

Problem with that is what is it's nearby to others of the same species and has grafted roots and the poison spreads to the other trees? Not good. So how can you kill the tree without killing the others?

Solution is ring bark it. Get your chainsaw and cut 2 rings right around the circumference of the tree, deep enough into the tree to cut through the bark and score the heartwood. The two rings should be maybe 100mm apart, then chisel out the do-nut.

Next problem you'll have is the base decaying out and the roots not holding up over the long term on the dead habitat tree, but depending on how severe the hatrack was and what species you'll get many years out of it. Some suggestions have been to wire it, bolt it to a vertical beam and grow a non invasive creeper over it to provide cover for habitat etc. Selecting the right trees and the right spots is important, bear in mind human safety and of course safety for the critters living in it. A habitat tree on the footpath for example is risky for both humans and critters.

Any other ideas guys?

Brother Colin · 6th February 2007, 01:02 AM

And there was another tree nearby that had another possum box in it. It was a live tree and looked quite healthy. Ther may have been more boxes but it was steep terrain to wander about using crutches.

And thanks for the article.

Sean Freeman · 6th February 2007, 01:29 AM

Nice photos Brother Colin.

The need to provide more deadwood and hollow trees in the effectively deforested urban areas we live in is one that has been increasingly recognised all over, there is some really excellent work being done in the UK by a number of groups.

E2_9.pdf

North America has also provided much of the solid evidence on which claims for the disasterous impact our clean urban forest is having and changes in management approaches to improve things.

0018.pdf

But Ekka's point is crucial how do we have these critically important habitat trees in areas where people live ie new subdivisions

The answer I believe lies in the way subdivisions are planned and what LGA's and State govts demand of the developers. Lets get away from the ridiculous idea that you can have forest canopy trees left as isolated individuals within a new housing estate. Lets not try to have massive forets giants in the residential street scape, but rather have specifications for green space in the subdivision the stipulates (where appropriate) remnant forest sections are left, protected during civils and house construction, left untouched (after being assessed to start with for suitability) away friom services roads gutters and property lines.
These can be our areas with habitat trees, really reflecting on what was present before and representing a sustainable volume of vegetation for generations rather than the 5-10yrs that is the average for trees left in subdivision at present.

SF

Ekka · 17th April 2007, 04:30 AM

And a fact sheet from NSW

Sean Freeman · 17th April 2007, 05:26 AM

Here's some more Australian data to support any writings or positions you might take with regards the value of deadwood and dead trees in the environment.

First is a report from the NSW Scientific Committee findings with regards to the role of deadwood and dead trees in the survival of threatened species.Removal of dead wood and dead tree1.doc

Second is 2005 Advice paper to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage on the impact of the loss of habitat trees.
Continuing net loss of native hollow.doc

Third is a 1999 paper from SE Qld on the value of deadwood and deadtrees to wildlife and agriculture.
The_value_of_dead_wood_to_wildlife_and_agriculture.pdf

Its also very important to understand what bits of legislation are behind this recognition of the importance of habitat trees and deadwood. Federally and within each State, local authorities often make their own local laws and regulations as part of their compliance to the overarching legislation.

17th April 2007, 05:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Here's some more Australian data to support any writings or positions you might take with regards the value of deadwood and dead trees in the environment. First is a report from the NSW Scientific Committee findings with regards to the role of deadwood and dead trees in the survival of threatened species.Removal of dead wood and dead tree1.doc Second is 2005 Advice paper to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage on the impact of the loss of habitat trees. Continuing net loss of native hollow.doc Third is a 1999 paper from SE Qld on the value of deadwood and deadtrees to wildlife and agriculture. The_value_of_dead_wood_to_wildlife_and_agriculture.pdf Its also very important to understand what bits of legislation are behind this recognition of the importance of habitat trees and deadwood. Federally and within each State, local authorities often make their own local laws and regulations as part of their compliance to the overarching legislation. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

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6th February 2007, 01:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brother Colin Sappling Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 48	And there was another tree nearby that had another possum box in it. It was a live tree and looked quite healthy. Ther may have been more boxes but it was steep terrain to wander about using crutches. And thanks for the article.

6th February 2007, 01:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Nice photos Brother Colin. The need to provide more deadwood and hollow trees in the effectively deforested urban areas we live in is one that has been increasingly recognised all over, there is some really excellent work being done in the UK by a number of groups. E2_9.pdf North America has also provided much of the solid evidence on which claims for the disasterous impact our clean urban forest is having and changes in management approaches to improve things. 0018.pdf But Ekka's point is crucial how do we have these critically important habitat trees in areas where people live ie new subdivisions The answer I believe lies in the way subdivisions are planned and what LGA's and State govts demand of the developers. Lets get away from the ridiculous idea that you can have forest canopy trees left as isolated individuals within a new housing estate. Lets not try to have massive forets giants in the residential street scape, but rather have specifications for green space in the subdivision the stipulates (where appropriate) remnant forest sections are left, protected during civils and house construction, left untouched (after being assessed to start with for suitability) away friom services roads gutters and property lines. These can be our areas with habitat trees, really reflecting on what was present before and representing a sustainable volume of vegetation for generations rather than the 5-10yrs that is the average for trees left in subdivision at present. SF