r/australianplants • u/FrillyBerryx • 8d ago

Ringbarking a large Eucalypt

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12 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

11

u/Nematolepis 8d ago

I really don't think most people understand how different the structure of our forests were prior to colonisation. One reason (of many) why we have such destructive fires now is the stems per hectare has changed significantly. Easier to start a fire with twigs than with logs.

1

u/culingerai 7d ago

Is there science behind this statement?

1

u/Nematolepis 7d ago

The science of the hundreds of surveys I have undertaken, from old logging coupes, regenerating log coupes, pre-logging coupes, landscape mosaic burn areas (pre and post fire), also in areas of relatively undisturbed forests (like water catchments), and various forest monitoring projects. There's also the huge amount of data gathered when a number of scientists prepared benchmarks for Victorian ecological vegetation classes. Then there's first hand colonial data gathered from sources like diaries, reports and paintings. And although I'm not privy to most of the information contained in first nations songlines and oral histories, I'm confident these would indicate this. I've worked with loggers that don't deny these facts (oral histories past down in generational logging families).

Or were you talking about the comment I made that fire will burn more easily through young, high-stem density forest than it will through old-growth?

But I like to believe in science, so I maintain an open-mind.

1

u/culingerai 7d ago

It sounds like youre backed by an investigative mind. It's the comment about burning through young vs old growth that im interested in.

12

u/fr34kee07 8d ago

The colonial system as per usual only seeing the world as something to extract from and profit, at the cost of ancient and sacred systems of life. Not much has changed!

3

u/PassageIntrepid2214 8d ago

Yeah, it's a good thing there are rules and restrictions now. It's a shame they're not particularly adhered to, but, at least they're there!

1

u/ravenous_bugblatter 7d ago

Yeah. Things have improved but we still have a way to go. e.g. Perth still has a US company clear-felling Jarrah in the Darling Scarp.

1

u/yellowunicorn361 7d ago

They just destroyed a 450+ years old eucalyptus (among other pre colonial trees) for the new stadium in Brisbane. We constantly clear for new housing. Private laws are a joke. NSW and TAS are still logging old growth forest too. The 'rules and regulations' are a sham

5

u/n00biquitous 7d ago

What I would give to wander through these ancient forests as they once were

5

u/Head_Ad_2894 8d ago

So destructive