Bell miner associated dieback strategy
Dieback is a condition in which trees progressively die, from the top downward. The condition spreads through the leaves and branches and often the whole plant will eventually die.
The hardwood forests of north-east NSW are increasingly suffering from a form of dieback. This type of dieback is strongly associated with sap-feeding insects called psyllids and psyllids are strongly associated with the native bell miner or bellbird.
Bell miners are a natural part of eucalypt forests, and they normally have a minor (and positive) impact on forests. However, bell miner populations have increased in size, and the birds have become more widely distributed.
Bell miners have been implicated in the spread of dieback, in addition to other factors such as:
- tree stress
- psyllid infestation
- dense forest understories
- weed invasion
- drought
- logging
- road construction
- pasture improvement
- loss of biodiversity (both plants and animals)
- soil nutrient changes
- changing fire patterns
- changing grazing regimes.
Bell miner associated dieback is spreading though forests on public and private lands from South-East Queensland to Victoria. These forests are regionally and nationally important for plant and animal conservation, tourism, water catchment management, and the production of honey and timber.
All sides of the forest debate have joined forces to help develop a strategy to tackle the threat of dieback associated with bell miners. The Bell Miner Associated Dieback Working Group, a group of government agencies, universities, landholders and conservation groups, has developed the Bell Miner Associated Dieback Strategy. The strategy aims to inform people about the problem and look for solutions to this major threat to our forests.
The strategy is an important first step in dealing with this significant and complex problem. It aims to:
- raise awareness about the significance of this form of dieback
- promote research into the causes of dieback
- support research into control measures
- help coordinate control programs on the ground
- develop dieback risk assessment criteria and risk management guidelines
- lobby for resources to deal with, and prevent dieback.
Documents to download Bell Miner Associated Dieback National Forum This national forum in March/April 2005 brought together scientists, forest managers and community groups to develop research directions and management options for tackling bell miner associated dieback. Find out more, and download the forum proceedings below.
Documents to download
More information
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
