Athel Pine & TamarixThreats, Management and Action

January 2012

Kay Bailey National Athel Pine Coordinator

Menindie Athel pine, Bourke Golf Course 2009

Overview

• National Athel Pine WoNS Program• Identification – 3 species• Impacts• Management – control options• What you can do!

T. ramosissima, Nyah VIC

Weeds of National Significance• The Australian Weed Strategy (AWS) (renamed from the 1997

National Weeds Strategy in 2007) is a multi jurisdictional framework

• Goal 2 of the AWS is to ‘Reduce the impact of existing priority weed problems including weeds issues of national significance - WoNS

• Approach – is robust and simple; treats agricultural, forestry & environmental weeds equally to rank species

• In 1999, 20 species became WoNS• Australian Government + all States / Territories are

supportive of and contribute to WoNS program• Potential addition of new WoNS in 2012

National Athel Pine Program

• 1999 one of the 20 species declared Weeds of National Significance• 2001 Athel pine National Strategy released (included other Tamarix species)• Nov 2005 National Athel Pine Management

Committee (NAPMC) formed• Dec 2006 National Coordinator appointed Full Time • March 2009 launch of Athel pine National

Best Practice Management Manual • Draft National Athel Pine Strategic Plan 2011-2015

(awaiting endorsement)

Athel pine Finke River NT

Launch of BPM Manual, Alice Springs 2009

NAPMC field trip, Mannum SA March 2011

Identification• 3 Tamarix species in Australia

Tamarix aphylla Athel pine Tamarix ramosissima TamariskTamarix parviflora Smallflower tamarisk

• Common names vary. Athel pine = Tamarix = Tamarisk.

• Varying taxonomy over time (eg Tamarix pentandra = T ramosissima)

Tools to assist• Fact Sheet• BPM Manual pages 10-11

1. Athel pine – Tamarix aphylla• Tall evergreen tree (to 20m)• Riparian - watercourses• Weedy from Carnarvon WA to Bourke NSW; Central Australia

to Hughenden QLD; Menindee NSW to Leigh Creek SA

Athel pine planted as a wind break – Copi Hollow, Menindee, NSW 2009

Athel pineDeclared in all states, WoNS

Chris

Bro

wn

Les

Tann

er

Les

Tann

er

Kay

Baile

yFlowers pinkish-white, 5 flower petals, flower spikes at end of previous year’s branches.

Leaves aphylla = without leaves, minute dull grey, sheath around fine branchlets.

Bark mature trees thick, rough grey-brown to black, new stems smooth and reddish-brown to grey-green.

2. Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)No legal status. Weedy in southern, inland NSW,

Murray River SA, northern VIC.

Sand

y Le

ight

on

Sand

y Le

ight

on

Jona

h G

ould

thor

pe

Tall deciduous to semi-deciduous shrub to 6mFlowers pinkish-white to purple, 5 petals, end of current year’s branches

Leaves small, smooth surface, evenly thick from base to tip

T. ramosissima along the edge of Lake Murphy, VIC

Bark smooth, older stems grey-brown, newer stems reddish-brown

3. Smallflower tamarisk (T. parviflora)No legal status. Weedy in Avon Valley & south west WA.

Tom Dudley

Sand

y Le

ight

on

Barr

y A

Ric

e

Toodyay River WA

Flower pinkish-white, 4 petalsLeaves distinctly thickened

toward the base

Bark new bark is brown-deep purple

Weedy throughout riparian areas of western and south western USA

Recorded Distribution All Tamarix species in Australia

ImpactsWhy are we focussing on athel pine and Tamarix?

• Increased surface soil salinity - reduction in native vegetation- expansion at expense of most other vegetation

• Reduced water quality• Reduced water quantity

– 1 athel pine or Tamarix plant can use up to 757 litres/day– Reduced availability for stock, people, environment

• Accelerated rusting of roofs, gutters, fences, buildings• Increased mustering costs

(X 6 compared to clear areas)• Reduced biodiversity of native plants &

animals• Flooding & alteration of watercourses

with accumulated sediment.

Examples of areas of major impact:

• 620 km of the Finke River system NT has been invaded by athel pine

• USA -10 species of Tamarix. (1920’s 4,000 ha; mid-1960s 500,000 ha;current - 1,000,000 ha and still spreading)

• Murray River system increasing spread and reporting of weedy Tamarix ramosissima over the past 2-3 years.

How can we control athel pine & Tamarix spp?

• Understand life cycle and spread– Grows near water– Prolific seeders– Seed is viable for short period only– Need wet conditions to establish– Vegetative propagation is a significant means

of local spread

• Plan control effort by knowing– Likely costs– Resources required– Location & density of the athel pine(BPM Manual p20-22)

Extensive recruitment of athel pine along banks of Gascoyne River, Carnarvon WA

Mechanical clearing

Best for large infestations or isolated trees where machinery available.

•Remove crown & taproot to at least 1m depth

•Follow up regrowth with herbicides

Chris

Bro

wn

Chris

Bro

wn

Mechanical clearing

Jona

h G

ould

thor

pe

Jona

h G

ould

thor

pe

YES

NO

Chemical - Herbicides•Herbicide control of Tamarix spp. is fickle

•Need everything in your favour

•Comply with permits, labels and control-of-use legislation

•The BPM Manual (pages 27-29) contains lists of permitted herbicides for each control option & State

Foliar spray

Best for extensive seedlings & regrowth <3m and following up regrowth after mechanical control•Good clean water

•Use wetter

•Good coverage

•Minimum 1 metre regrowth from roots

•Leave sprayed plants for 12 months

Basal barkUseful for small inaccessible infestations, smooth-barked <10cm, any time of year.

•Smooth-barked individuals only

•Clear sediment and debris from stems

Cut stumpUseful for small, inaccessible infestations & sites for selective control

•Cut low and level

•Treat stump within 30 seconds

Other control options

• Stem injection / frilling • Hand pulling• Flooding• Biocontrol

– dieback

Mount Isa QLD

Lower Finke R, NT

Gemfields QLD

Follo

w-u

p m

etho

dPr

imar

y m

etho

dRe

sult

Basal bark or foliar spray

Section 2.4.3

Long term eradication

Cut StumpSection 2.4.3

Decision support tree for Tamarix control (p32 BPM Manual)

Monitor and basal bark, cut stump or foliar spray regrowth at 1 m height

N Y

N

Stems >10 cm thick or with rough

bark

More than 10 mature

plants?

Is there good access

for/availability of machinery?

N

Monitor and basal bark, cut stump or foliar spray regrowth at 12-18 month intervals

Mechanical clearing

Section 2.4.2

Seedlings <45 cm tall

only?

Hand pull Section 2.4.4

Cut StumpSection 2.4.3

Replace with local provenance plants as appropriate

Remove debris from flood zone if practicable

Section 2.4.1

Y

N Y

Remove debris from flood zone if practicableSection 2.4.1

Stems >10 cm thick or with rough

barkBasal bark or foliar spray

Section 2.4.3

YN

Y

Clean down vehicles and machinery on site Section 2.4.1

Success factors• Planning• Persistence• Monitoring• Adaptive, integrated approach using a number

of methods• Duration of follow up required.

Regrowth following use of cut stump on athel pines, Menindee School, NSW.

What you can do!

• Look out for high risk plantings (<100m from watercourse, towns, homesteads, bores, stockyards, etc)

• Record plants using GPS and take photos• Record & report weedy populations

(kay.bailey@nt.gov.au)• Lodge specimens at the Herbarium• Plan to remove athel pines over time.

Local and Regional ActionYour group, local government agency or regional body

could:- Provide identification and awareness information to

members / stakeholders;- Encourage mapping and recording of athel pine and

other Tamarix species;- Identify those at a higher risk of spread;- Develop an action plan to remove over time those

higher risk plants and those that have already become weedy;

- Provide the mapping information to the National Athel Pine Coordinator or Weed Contacts in each State.

Comments & Questions?

Further contact:08 89519213

kay.bailey@nt.gov.auwww.weeds.org.au/WoNS/athelpine

Prevent this scenario! Dense athel pine infestation on the lower Finke River, NT