But you need to answer my question first:
Q: Suggest another BETTER , alternative genera to willows???
Better still, suggest a number of alternative genera and explain WHY they would be better and work as effectively as 'the worlds premier riparian primary coloniser'.
As a former forester, I am sure Ghosta you would have some excellent suggestions, which I would love to see and comment on.
The Willows Task Force have failed to do so as too have Landcare.
The present science used to advocate the removal of willows is that they take out too much water from our rivers.
This science is REDUCTIONIST and poor science in the extreme.
It focuses, like all reductionist science, on digging down to the smallest point.
Good pure, scientific investigation if its done properly looks, at the wholistic organism to see how it functions.
The science is already in on willows.
However, CSIRO have chosen to ignore all the evidence which supports willows.
The following can all be supported with scientifically validated benefits:
Willows are the worlds top riparian plants. And there is a massive amount of data to support that statement.
A few of the Willows positive effects include:
[*]modifying diurnal temperature via evapotranspiration....and absorbing radiant heat. 1 Willow is equivalent to 28 reverse cycle air conditioners
[*]reduce evaporation by shading the river
[*]reduced evapotranspiration because they are deciduous for 3-5 months
[*]prevent water losses to the system by slowing velocities, de-energising high stream flows and preventing both stream banks and instream erosion.
[*]willows replicate the role once played by reed bed wetlands and mimic and perform a similar role re-instating landscape function
[*]increased the fertility of the wetland system by capturing and storing Carbon, the leaf litter is nor toxic to native fish like some native species (red river gums)
[*]retaining sediment in the system
[*]retaining organic matter in the system
[*]refugia for fish, platypus, crustaceans etc
[*]filtering water and thereby
improving water quality
[*]acting as primary colonisers to stabilize and secure the stream bed and banks for the secondary colonisers....mainly natives inc Casuarinas etc.
[*]recycling the daily water cycle and preventing water losses from the system (the opposite to what your research shows)
[*]filtering and trapping flaoting storm debris
[*]“However, if the net overall benefit of willow removal from creeks and streams is to be properly evaluated, the various other benefits and disadvantages of removal must also be understood and included in decision making,”
The science conducted by CSIRO is POOR science because it has ignored ALL of the many positive benefits in favour of one....water loss.
Well there is water in all of the willow itself which transpires and is recovered by the daily water cycle. They take NO account of that information.
And besides a willow taken out of a living system losses that water that made up 80% of its mass and LOST it forever from the system.
If the Govt is fair dinkum about climate change and g;obal warming it has a HUGE policy CONFLICT.
Bureaucrats in Canberra are in a trap, the right hand does not know what the left is doing.
The DCCE wants to sequester carbon in plants and soil to cool the planet.
DAFF and DEHWA want to remove every willow in the system.
Why not??why not say, "Ok I dont agree or even care about your reasons for advocating willow removal, but we will go along with your program if you can come up with some viable alternatives for us to use in NSF, AND any willow removal is done in a manner that protects our catchements. And we will cooperate in any reasonable manner that will help."
Because, of everything stated above.
BTW, maybe the bureaucrats might tell you the answers to my question above i.e.,
Q: Suggest another BETTER , alternative genera to willows???
Better still, suggest a number of alternative genera and explain WHY they would be better and work as or more effectively than 'the worlds premier riparian primary coloniser'.....willows.
You won't get an answer because they HAVE NONE.
The bureaucrats have failed in their duty of care to both the public and the environment and these faceless bureaucrats need to be held to account for failing to do their proper due diligence.
They are more than welcome to come and see what we have done. We would be always happy to speak with them.
But they can't be bothered getting out of their air conditioned offices and as such they should stand condemned.