Tasmania has been experiencing consistently higher than average temperatures, placing native trees under extreme stress. 

Following the unusually hot 2012/13 summer, which ended in a record breaking heatwave, Forestry Tasmania noticed a number of dead trees and determined severe heat to be the culprit. 

In extreme heat trees evaporate moisture through their leaves to keep cool. When they can’t draw enough water through their roots to replenish, they get water stress and shrink. This damages the part of the tree that forms new wood cells. 

Called Ginger Tree Syndrome, the initial indication that a tree is unhealthy is an orange trunk, caused by leaking sap. Following this an increasing amount of the canopy dies off, before the entire tree dies. 

“It’s a huge problem across the north of the state. It’s been quite shocking over the last few years to see great swathes, especially of white gums, go quite orange and then die,” said environmental consultant Anna Povey. “We’re not aware of any scientists really following it up anymore.”

Concerned community members from across the north have come together to establish monitoring stations to begin gathering data and establishing the extent of the problem. “I’ve noticed over the last decade a lot of tree deaths and… eucalypt and native forest decline and I’m extremely worried,” said Lalla resident, Margie Dockray.

The group, supported by NRM North, are looking into what factors may impact the trees and their rate of decline, and what might help them hang on. 

Ms Povey hopes the data will be used in a scientific study to help address the problem. Anyone wanting to join the monitoring program can contact NRM North’s Alison Hugo on 0448 384 681.