The Dieback Working Group recently appointed a new Project Coordinator, Paul Zuvela , to assist in the fight against the Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback) disease that is decimating native bushland in Western Australia.
Funding for the Dieback Project has come from the Natural Heritage Trust, Alcoa and Shire of Kalamunda.
The project aims to increase awareness and improve management of Phytophthora dieback, a disease that has been likened to a biological bulldozer killing many native plants in its path.
A foreign invader not native to West Australian bushland causes dieback. It is a microscopic organism that is found in soil, muddy water and streams.
It is often inadvertently spread to healthy areas by soil transported on vehicles, when soil or gravel is intentionally spread during firebreak or path construction, or during road building. At present, there is no known cure for the disease but management of soil movement will minimise the chance of it spreading.
The Dieback Working Group has developed a set of management guidelines suitable for adoption by Local Government authorities. Four Western Australian Local Governments have adopted a dieback management policy and guidelines and it is Paul Zuvela’s task to promote adoption by others.
“Large areas of dieback free bushland exist around Perth, but to minimise the risk of spreading dieback to these areas, the dieback management guidelines need to be implemented,” Paul Zuvela said.
Federal Member for Pearce, Judi Moylan, said she was pleased to support the Dieback Working Group’s activities and that funding from the Natural Heritage Trust would be used to assist the fight against dieback.
“It is important that we, as a community, take a proactive approach to protecting our bushland and manage the risk that dieback presents for our natural ecosystem,” she said. “I am pleased that four Shires have already taken up the challenge of adopting dieback management policy guidelines and look forward to other local authorities doing the same.”
Paul Zuvela said that he was looking forward to working with Local Government and community conservation groups in the metropolitan and southwest regions to save valuable bushland from the threat of dieback disease.
For further information on this project contact Paul Zuvela, telephone (08) 9257 9938.
