Australia’s Brigalow forests almost gone in 60 years

Lead researcher Dr Rod Fensham from the University of Queensland says the loss of this once widespread ecosystem is one of the most rapid on the planet.

“At the start of the 1950s Brigalow forests were almost intact, and were important habitat for over 1000 other species of plants, as well as important habitat for wildlife,” said Dr Fensham.

“Brigalow trees, a silvery leaved wattle, grew to around 20 meters tall and formed dense forests. Their rapid clearing began in the 1950s when bull-dozers became readily available.

“Since then an average of almost 200,000 hectares of Brigalow forest has been cleared every year for 60 years.

“Only 8% of Brigalow forests now remain, a very poor situation, and as we lose Brigalow we are losing other species.

“Many of the wildlife species that were once common in Brigalow forests are now threatened including the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, birds like the Black-breasted Button-quail, and reptiles like the Golden-tailed Gecko and Ornamental Snake.


Image: Golden-tailed Gecko is only found in Brigalow forests. Photo: Dave Flemming Wikimedia CC BY 3.0
 

“We are also losing plants, for example, we surveyed for four species of bush tomatoe at over 200 sites, and found that for some species we have already lost 98 percent of the number of plants. So for every 50 plants that existed in 1950, there is now only one.

“As well as being important food for wildlife, bush tomatoes are rich in phyto-chemicals, if we lose these species we may lose important drugs for the future. 

 

The research is part of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub which undertakes research to support the recovery of Australia’s threatened species.

The Hub is a collaboration between 10 of Australia’s leading Universities and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and receives support from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.


Image: A bush tomato species which grows in Brigalow forest. Photo: Rod Fensham

Available for interview - Dr Rod Fensham, The University of Queensland, rod.fensham@dsiti.qld.gov.au, 0447 907535,  07 3896 9547 

 

Media support - Jaana Dielenberg, TSR Hub Science Communication Manager,  j.dielenberg@uq.edu.au, 0413 585 709 

Photos are available in dropbox to accompany this story. Photographers must be credited  

Top image: Brigalow Forest. Photo: Rod Fensham