Murdoch University researchers and international scientists are warning that thousands of Marri trees throughout the South West, including in the winery regions, are dying or are already dead. Disease and drought are threatening Warrup, Yabberup, Arcacia and Kingston-Perup. Source: Indymedia
Professor Giles Hardy and Dr George Matusick from Murdoch University’s Centre of Excellence for Climate ChangenWoodland and Forest Health said they are dying from a form of tree cancer know as Marri canker.
The Marri canker is not completely understood and there are no known solutions.
They have also identified that large areas of Jarrah forest and all the way to Collie have suddenly collapsed and died from drought.
They describe that Wandoo, Tuart and WA Peppermint have also shown severe recent declines, with some of the dead trees estimated to be at least 150 to 200 years old.
During 2011, the researchers surveyed large areas of the northern Jarrah forest from the ground and the air to find that 17,000 hectares of eco-system have suddenly collapsed.
