The loss of trees in backyards is a big deal for the 300 species of native vertebrates which rely on tree hollows for breeding, nesting and denning. A third of Australian terrestrial mammals, two thirds of bats and 15 per cent of birds rely on old, hollow bearing trees. Snakes, lizards, bats, birds, possums, gliders, bees and other insects are likely cohabitating in a tree in your vicinity. That tree may be connected with other habitat or it may be an isolated refuge. ‘Trees are first and foremost a living thing, despite all the wonderful functions they provide from an environmental point of view, social health and wellbeing. They do have a finite life,’ says Williams. For some trees, in paddocks, in forests, away from footpaths and houses, death can occur naturally, and their degraded carcass can form vital habitat. [...] Lee Anderson, a council arborist, says that the legislation around tree-felling in Australia has significant gaps and is disjointed. ‘Firstly, I see there is not a lot of enforcement for existing legislation, there is not a lot of knowledge throughout the industry,’ says Anderson, adding that there are no strict industry guidelines for the humane treatment of animals. ‘A lot of the companies in tree removal and tree management are very profit driven. The unfortunate side of that is there are quite significant shortcuts taken a lot of the time.’ ‘If there is no legislative requirement—or no legislative requirement is being enforced—to manage existing habitat or manage creatures that may be within the tree, then it’s going to go by the wayside.’ Tree workers at a recent workshop on the management of arboreal wildlife in felling situations seemed to concur, and shared their very mixed experiences on the job. ‘Most of the time for us it’s just damage control; you’re just cutting away and you’re just thankful you see a full possum, instead of half a possum,’ said one arborist. It wasn’t the only time that animals being killed in their hollows by chainsaw cuts was mentioned during the workshop. ‘With tree cutting, it’s essentially that the guys generally aren’t taught to think, they’re taught to cut,’ says Anderson, who started his career in the UK. ‘Whereas in the UK we have very, very strong legislation which covers a multitude of different facets for animals and their habitat, to the point where if you knowingly or recklessly disturb a nesting site or a nesting site that’s even in the process of being built, there can be quite significant financial implications.’ ‘I come from a nation of gardeners and dog owners and find, having worked here in Australia for some years now, that there is a cultural attitude of “it’s gotta be cut down”, which is quite confronting and quite new for me.’ ‘Really, we need to strike more of a balance between the natural and the built environment in our cities.’ abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/ethics-and-economics-of-urban-tree-management/5775552
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 03:56:30 +0000
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