EARTHCHAT: An ode to trees: losing trees means losing our lifeline …..

Listen at noon, Tuesday 7 July on Seymour FM or anytime as a podcast.

Photograph by Cath Olive.

Ruth is joined by Dr Greg Moore OAM, a Senior Research Associate from the University of Melbourne, and EarthChat regular, Cath Olive from the Euroa Arboretum.

They join me to talk about the latest data collected from this year’s bush fires in Victoria with a focus on the dire consequences of tree loss, particularly old growth trees whose important tree hollows provide much needed habitat for native wild mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians….

Trees are major keystone species - a single tree is an eco system in its own right. Take tree hollows as just one aspect of the system, for example. We now know we’ve lost 50% of these vital life giving hollows in these latest fires. Such a loss is extremely critical because trees take anywhere from 100 to 300 years to form hollows in their trunks, making them a largely irreplaceable resource.

How can we help? Cath talks about the work "The Arb" is doing not only producing hollow replacements with nesting boxes, but other ways to counteract such losses along with prevention education, like the ‘Trees on Farms’ project.

Dr Moore will talk about fire-wise gardening, and explain why removing vegetation has a huge impact, citing examples of increased heatwave and wind affects, along with doubling storm damage generally. He will clear up any misinformation about planting exotics in place of eucalyptus, citing Oaks as an example, which burn vigorously if exposed to fire.

Dr Moore is concerned that we are trying so hard to control our natural environment and explains how this is contributing to heatwaves becoming a bigger killer than any of the other natural phenomena except for pandemics.  We must acknowledge that we are creating an environment that’s allowing global warming, and act to mitigate the causes where we can, including reducing the heat island effect to keep our cities and towns cooler to lower the instances of heat-related illness and associated medical costs.

Greg Moore is a Senior Research Associate, University of Melbourne, Burnley, was Principal of Burnley (1988-2007) and Head of the School of Resource Management (2002-007). Interested in horticultural science, revegetation and ecology, Greg specializes

in arboriculture. He was inaugural president of the ISA Australian Chapter, and has been

a member of the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees since 1988 and chair since

1996. He served on the Boards of Greening Australia (1988-2012), Trust for Nature

(2009-2017) and is on the board of Sustainable Gardening Australia and TREENET

(Chair 2005-2019). He has written three books, seven book chapters and 200 scientific

papers and articles. He was awarded an OAM in 2017 for services to the environment,

particularly arboriculture.

And a reminder about Cath Olive, She is the Development Manager (and much more) of the Euroa Arboretum …. Cath has worked in environmental education and landscape restoration in the Goulburn Broken catchment for the past 28 years.  She is passionate about plants, people and wildlife – working to balance the needs of community and farmers with positive environmental outcomes.  She is inspired by biodiverse landscape restoration and working alongside Traditional Owners in managing country. camping and my dad and I would go plant hunting. The natural world is where I am happiest and content. I have been lucky to have been able to share this love of plants for the last 30 years through my various jobs, generally on Taungurung country – currently at the Arb.

Important links:

• Dr Greg Moore recommends having a good look around the many free resources on the not for profit TreeNet website which supports Urban Forest Research & Education for Communities:- treenet.org

• Dr Moore will be speaking at an event in Euroa on July 22 from 9.30 - 12.30 venue to be announced - please check the Euroa Arboretum website closer to the date to find out its location: - euroaarboretum.com.au/. And take a good look around at their many offerings while you’re there.

Tune in! Can't listen to the radio show on Tuesday at noon? Catch up on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,  Podbean and the BEAM website. It is easy to EarthChat!