<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-wollemi-pines-survival-proves-we-can-save-more-trees/>
"As megafires ravaged the wilderness of Australia in 2019, Berin Mackenzie got
a call.
With less than 24 hours’ notice, the New South Wales Department of Planning and
Environment research scientist would be part of a team sent into the path of
the blaze to try to save the last remaining stands of the Wollemi pine. The
tree with ancient lineage had once covered wide swaths of Australia, but the
population had dwindled to fewer than 300.
In that unprecedented moment, as Mackenzie and his colleagues rushed to gear up
ahead of a helicopter mission, he says, the responders had some guidance to
turn to. Years earlier, a team of experts tasked with the species’ survival had
put together a plan for what to do in case the last Wollemi pines were
threatened with fire.
Their work was just one part of saving this rare tree, which traces back to the
Cretaceous period, earning it the nickname the “dinosaur tree.” The Wollemi was
believed to have long since died out when the stand that Mackenzie flew to
protect was discovered in 1994 in a remote canyon not far from Sydney. Since
then, the conservation team has sent saplings around the world, managed
replantings to encourage survival in the wild and carefully guarded the
surviving population. While the tree’s story and fame make it a standout among
threatened plants, these efforts — including a multi-agency response team and
significant public interest — offer insights for protecting other rare species
amid the global biodiversity crisis."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
