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Weed science a victim of the 'commercialisation axe' : Comments
By Rachel McFadyen, published 17/4/2007Weeds are a major threat to agriculture and the environment in Australia but research support has been withdrawn next year.
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Not only have weeds (defined as any plant growing where it is not wanted) been imported into Australia from overseas, some varieties of Australian plants have been moved to other regions where they have flourished. Another influence which has caused Australian native plants to grow like weeds was the introduction of the European bee which has acted as a very effective pollinator. I believe that Queensland is losing 2% of grassland every year to what is euphemistically referred to as ‘woody weeds’. In many instances this is due to the spread of eucalyptus trees. Not only are they robbing our country people of grazing land, many of these trees cover the hills surrounding the reservoirs constructed to store water for city use and are partly responsible for the lack of water now causing severe restrictions. They rob the catchment in two ways. These eucalyptus trees drop litter which acts as a mulch, thus preventing water running down the slope, so instead such rain water is absorbed into the soil. The eucalyptus trees flourish by being able to draw up this subsoil moisture, preventing it draining down the slope. I suggest city people go for a drive into the country and look at the age of the eucalyptus trees along their roads or on the hills surrounding dams and estimate the age of these trees. If the tree has hollow limbs it may be a hundred years old. You will notice that there are very few such trees. Early photographs show that many parts of the country have become more heavily timbered since it was originally settled.