Nigel Sterpin wrote:
>
> Dear, dear Scott!!
> Let me guess, vegies, you're one of very few Australians who eat Elm leaves.
> Also have Oak tree acorns as a side serving??
> If we are on about looks (a subjective area), then be glad Australians do
> not have a need to mirror Greece. Otherwise, even our nature strips would be
> concrete slabs.
> Please educate me on the benefits of introduced plant and animal life. As I
> will keep returning to the same issue, are you going to join my bandwagon to
> protect foxes and rabbits?
> Uroo, Nigel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: M. Scott O'Keeffe <>
> To: Nigel Sterpin <>
> Cc: Meloni Muir <>; birding-aus
> <>
> Date: Wednesday, 20 October 1999 23:24
> Subject: Re: birding-aus Re: introduced pest
>
> >Nigel Sterpin wrote:
> >>
> >> Meloni,
> >> 'lovely tree' is a subjective statement, not an objective statement, I am
> >> sure I could find someone who thinks that blowflies are an attractive
> >> insect!!!
> >> Secondly, anything introduced has an effect on the environment. These
> Elms
> >> (and all other introduced plants) replace native plants, which would
> >> otherwise act to create wildlife corridors, beside the fact that they are
> >> what was here in the first place and are part of Australia's balance
> between
> >> flora and fauna.
> >>
> >> Uroo, Nigel
> >> PS: In my opinion, Elms look awful in Winter, they don't flower like
> >> Eucalypts, but most relevant is that they are boring trees. I would much
> >> rather have a gum full of lorikeets, miners, cockatoos, honeyeaters, etc.
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Meloni Muir <>
> >> To: <>
> >> Date: Wednesday, 20 October 1999 11:24
> >> Subject: introduced pest
> >>
> >> >Nigel,
> >> >
> >> >Why do you consider elm trees "introduced pests"? To my limited
> knowledge
> >> >of Australian vegetation, they don't seem to be out competing/displacing
> >> >native trees. From the web site you referenced, FOTE is interested in
> >> >monitoring the health of elms with an aim to protecting the species from
> >> >Dutch Elm Disease. I have see its impact in North America. Although
> the
> >> >elm is not native to Australia, it is a lovely tree and I don't
> understand
> >> >your reference to it as a pest.
> >> >
> >> >Cheers,
> >> >Meloni
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Dr Meloni M Muir
> >> >
> >> >Department of Physiology F13 office phone: (+61 02) 9351 6514
> >> >Institute for Biomedical Science lab phone: (+61 02) 9351 6524
> >> >University of Sydney fax: (+61 02) 9351 2058
> >> >Sydney, NSW 2006 e-mail:
> >> >
> >>
> >> To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
> >>
> >> Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
> >> quotes)
> >
> >
> >Dear, dear, Nigel. You eat lettuce? Cabbage? I expect your vegies are
> >blocking someones wildlife corridor. Or are they varieties which are
> >disappearing... maybe an important source of genetic material?
> >--
> >"Beware of Half-truths... you may have the wrong half"
> >
> >M. Scott O'Keeffe
> >Centre for Conservation Biology
> >University of Queensland
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
> >
> >Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
> >quotes)
I'm trying to inject a bit of perspective. By the way, the fruits of
some oak trees are edible, and certainly more delicious than many
Australian bush tucker plants. Which is not to denigrate those
Australian plants, far from it. If you are adamant about the edible
theme, may I again point out that you almost certainly eat mostly exotic
plants, which I dare say are responsible for the destruction of far more
Australian bushland than are elms. My point is not, as you seem to
think "love all exotics, whatever the cost". I'm trying to get you to
look at the merits of protecting elms. If you want to stick with the
purist line, why exempt your food? As far as "the environment" goes,
there is little difference between an apple tree and an elm. You are
simply accepting one (and not the other) out of pure self interest. And
I hasten to point out that this is quite all right with me. Just
recognise that there most certainly are conservation arguements worthy
of debating, rather than dismissing, in relation to the elms. I have
seen the devastation that Dutch Elm Disease does to native trees in
North America. If our relatively small collection of healthy elms can
contribute in some way to a lasting solution to their problem, then they
should be retained and properly cared for. I would not expect the San
Deigo zoo to destroy a colony of Tasmanian Tigers because they are a
native of another country. I agree, and am more than well aware of the
problems that exotic species cause. But the bulldozer and the grazing
animal have caused more destruction than any elm trees in Australia.
Better to direct our energies at those issues.
Unfortunately you put your foot in the proverbial when you unwittingly
accused me of supporting conservation of European Foxes (which, for
environmental destruction are not in anything like the same league as
elm trees). I work full time for the Qld Department of Natural
Resources designing and implementing feral animal control programs for
foxes, feral pigs, cats and whole host of other exotics. But, most
especially foxes.
So, try to argue the points, rather than calling names and making
assumption.
For the moment, I'll put my name down in support of elm conservation,
insofar as I will not condone cutting down existing trees which have
value as a genetic resource, but which, as far as I am aware, have no
substantive environmental impact. And I'll be planting eucalypts,
acacias, native grasses, etc etc etc. whenever I plant a tree, and I'll
encourage others to do so as well. In preference to oaks and other
things like that.
As a matter of curiosity, what do those who support getting rid of all
of the elms think of this one? A few years ago, in Mackay, Australia
had one of the worlds largest collections of mango varieties. I am told
that horticulturalists viewed this as a unique collection, with great
potential in development of disease resistant varieties, varieties for
different soil types, climates, etc. The collection, was, in short, one
of a kind. It was cut down in one fell swoop, I am told, by the local
council who claimed that they were "messy". I, for one, can think of
far worse messes that should have attracted their attention and efforts.
--
"Beware of Half-truths... you may have the wrong half"
M. Scott O'Keeffe
Centre for Conservation Biology
University of Queensland
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