Borer Action Group (Bag) speaks about the dreaded bug #ProtectOurTrees
Johannesburg – The action met to discuss their knowledge and treatment that should be applied to trees affected by the shot-hole borer crisis.
The Borer Action Group (Bag) is a partnership between TreeWorks, Urban Forest, Chop em Tree Fellers, Urban Arborist, TC Services and Johannesburg Urban Forest Alliance (Jufa).
Member of Bag, Julian Ortlepp said, “We formed the group to enable us to speak with one voice to Joburg City Parks primarily about the poor manner in which they have handled the borer crisis.
“We are still waiting for a site where the public can dump infected wood for proper disposal, which is critical to the management of this issue.”
Bag meets to share knowledge and to discuss what treatments have been applied to trees and if, where and how many positive results have been observed. “It is important that during a crisis such as this there is a co-operative ethos between everyone involved,” added Ortlepp.
Bag continues to work closely with the Jufa. The group does not promote widespread spraying of pesticides as a solution to this issue. It is Bag’s opinion that a mixed approach is needed but the removal of reproductive host trees is one of the main factors in trying to reduce the borer’s spread.
“Have a professional evaluate your tree and advise you on what the best [action is]. It’s not a case of one glove fits all.”
There is a desperate need for funding to research the borer in the urban forest environment. Ortlepp continued that various other affected parties such as certain agricultural associations are providing funding for research but they need to do the same in our urban forest.
“We need to be planting trees in every space we have available to counteract the loss that we are facing,” he concluded.
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