The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and Forest Industries Federation of Western Australia (FIFWA) are calling on the Western Australian Government to take immediate and further action against the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB), a damaging tree pest that could seriously impact our forestry industry and destroy trees and ecosystems from local gardens to national parks – Australia-wide, AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said today.
The PSHB – first detected in WA in 2021 – is spreading through backyards, urban forests and native reserves across metropolitan Perth – killing trees. Eradication and containment efforts need to be increased or it’s a matter of time before it moves south of Perth to the state’s production forests, or potentially nation-wide, killing many iconic trees, decimating Australian backyards and impacting forestry. The only effective treatment known is tree or limb removal so the WA Government, along with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions need to be on notice about the serious biosecurity risk this Borer presents. It would be a travesty if governments don’t resource the PSHB response sufficiently.
Diana Hallam said, “AFPA and FIFWA have written to the WA Government to ensure appropriate resources and actions are being put in place with respect to requirements under the national Emergency Plan Pest Response (EPPR) to combat this significant exotic tree pest in Perth. We don’t want it spreading and impacting production forests in southern-WA or potentially other parts of the country.
“This is not just WA’s problem and we’re acutely aware that measures to eradicate PSHB through the national emergency plant pest arrangements haven’t been sufficient. If governments fail to up the ante and act decisively now, we risk setting a dangerous precedent. The cost of inaction won’t just be measured in trees lost, but also damage to ecosystems, biodiversity, communities and our ability to respond to future crises.”
FIFWA CEO Adele Farina said, “In South Africa, the ongoing management costs associated with the PSHB are in the billions of dollars and we believe a national response may be warranted to contain the impact of this pest. We urge WA and other governments to seriously consider the impact of this pest and act before the problem potentially gets out of control. “We’ll engage further with the WA Government, other state jurisdictions and the Commonwealth as required, in response to the PSHB threat and further immediate action on the issue.”