Earlier in our BTE Blogs we talked about the importance of retaining natural habitat within the urban environment whilst addressing potential risks associated with the failure or structural collapse of dead and/or dangerous trees.
So why is the retention of these types of trees so important? Many species of wildlife utilise tree hollows for nesting, shelters and safe refuges, and recent information suggests that this may exceed 300 individual species.
Some of the more common species that everybody would know, and which form part of our unique wildlife in Australia include Kookaburras, Cockatoos, Galah’s, Possums and Sugar Gliders, and that just scratches the surface! By removing trees that have the potential to provide habitat for these types of animal, we are having a significant impact on the biodiversity of our local environments.
It is generally considered that natural hollows can take between 120 – 150 years to develop in trees, through the process of failure and decay, and this alone highlights the important role that arborist’s can play, by reducing the occurrence of habitat destruction through education and the implementation of modern techniques.
Specialized pruning techniques have now been introduced to Australia which qualified arborist’s can not only apply to dead trees, but can in certain circumstances be introduced into living trees, and with appropriate consultation and application are highly beneficial to a range of native wildlife species.
The use of some nifty chainsaw work by a qualified arborist and the application of coronet cuts or fracture pruning can have real implications in the potential creation of habitat. Not only can these techniques give the tree a natural “storm damaged” appearance, but they can aid in colonization by micro-organisms that assist with hollow development.
Check out the photos below that show the Brisbane Tree Experts team undertaking some habitat pruning on a dead urban tree, and be sure to read the next blog to learn more about the arborist’s role in habitat creation.
About the author: Dave Norton is a qualified, experienced and passionate arborist working with the awesome team at Brisbane Tree Experts. “We care about your trees living”
