{"id":302680,"date":"2021-07-20T15:34:47","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T05:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=302680"},"modified":"2021-07-20T21:23:21","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T11:23:21","slug":"clean-up-to-protect-bunya-pines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/07\/20\/clean-up-to-protect-bunya-pines\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Up To Protect Bunya Pines"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
A new boot-washing station which has been installed at the entrance to a track at Burtons Well (Photo: NPWS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 20, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has installed boot-washing stations at walking track entrances in Bunya Mountains National Park to help protect bunya pines from a potentially devastating soil-borne disease.<\/p>\n

Ranger Adam Taylor said QPWS had been working with expert plant pathologists to investigate why a number of bunya pines in the National Park had become unhealthy or had died.<\/p>\n

\u201cExtensive testing of soil and root samples found evidence of two introduced species of Phytophthora<\/em>, a disease-causing plant pathogen, and scientists think this could be the cause,\u201d Mr Taylor said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPhytophthora multivora<\/em> and Phytophthora cinnamomi<\/em> are microscopic fungal-like organisms, called water moulds, that live in soil and are spread from place to place in infected soil carried on shoes, machines and other equipment or plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey affect plants by attacking the root system and decreasing the plant\u2019s ability to take up water and nutrients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bunya Mountains are home to the largest stand of bunya pines remaining in the world and are of great cultural importance to First Nations peoples. It\u2019s important we protect them from harm and stop the disease spreading to other areas within the national park.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the first line of defence, QPWS will install boot-washing stations at all walking track entrances throughout the Bunya Mountains National Park so that visitors can clean their boots on their way in and out of the forest.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt each station, walkers will be able to use a brush to remove any soil before using a non-toxic, non-corrosive and biodegradable disinfectant to clean their boots.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe soil and disinfectant solution will be collected in a tank and removed for further treatment before being disposed of safely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boot-washing stations are manufactured in Aotearoa, New Zealand, where they are effectively used to fight Phytophthora<\/em>-induced Kauri dieback disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Taylor said plant pathologists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries were working with universities on laboratory testing to confirm bunya pines and hoop pines show signs of disease when infected with Phytophthora.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWith support from HQ Plantations, scientists are also trialling infecting fungicide into 50-year-old plantation bunya and hoop pines in the hope of developing a potential treatment for affected trees,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

QPWS says visitors to the Bunya Mountains National Park can help protect bunya pines by following some simple tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n