Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
regeneration now will prolong the time that landscapes support few or no mature
paddock trees. Finding alternatives to clearing paddock trees is important because
this remains one of the greatest threats to these trees in rural areas.
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Limiting grazing pressure to perpetuate paddock trees
Well-managed grazing can reduce direct and indirect damage that stock can
cause to paddock trees. Direct damage includes stock harming a tree's bark or
eating its leaves. Indirect damage includes fatally high levels of nutrients from
concentrated levels of animal dung entering the soil. Large amounts of dung also
may lead to large increases in the numbers of insects which can defoliate trees
(see Box 4.3).
Scattered paddock trees can be perpetuated in landscapes by reducing grazing
pressure through cell or rotational grazing practices to enable regeneration to
occur.
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Fencing areas around groups of paddock trees also can prevent livestock
from camping under them.
Planning cropping to better protect paddock trees
Paddock trees are being cleared in some regions because they are incompatible
with modern farming practices, particularly the use of agricultural infrastructure
such as centre pivots, lateral-moving irrigation systems,
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and large GPS-guided
machinery for precision agriculture such as tram-lining.
One possible way to integrate cropping with the long-term maintenance of
populations of scattered paddock trees is to employ a zoning system where parts of
paddocks are designed as places where existing paddock trees will be retained and
new ones will be recruited through strategies that promote tree regeneration.
Limiting spray drift and fertiliser use to promote paddock tree protection
Paddock trees can be particularly sensitive to herbicide spray drift. Several farm
management activities can help reduce the susceptibility of paddock trees to
dieback (see Box 4.3). One of these is to regulate the application of chemical sprays
carefully. Another strategy that reduces mortality among paddock trees is avoiding
the build-up of nutrients around trees from fertiliser. Reducing the amount of
nutrients from fertiliser application around paddock trees can promote the natural
regeneration of overstorey woodland trees.
Limiting firewood harvesting
The firewood industry is a major threat to populations of scattered paddock
trees.
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Individual farm practices that regulate or prohibit commercial firewood
harvesting are a vital management tool that can significantly contribute to the
preservation of scattered standing and fallen paddock trees.
