PNRA outlines their strategy for dealing with shot-hole borer #ProtectOurTrees
PARKTOWN NORTH – A packed-out meeting at the Parktown North Methodist Church sought to address concerns and inform residents regarding the PNRA's strategy concerning the shot-hole borer infesting trees in the suburb.
The Parktown North Methodist Church was overflowing with community members eager to hear about solutions to the shot-hole-borer problem plaguing their suburb on 11 September.
The Parktown North Ratepayers and Residents Association (PNRA) invited local residents, members of surrounding communities and interested parties to a public meeting to inform them about the beetle and the way in which the association will tackle the problem.
Chair Lee-Ann Louverdis said the association first sought to address the problem in April last year and has since formed a number of alliances with neighbouring residents associations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and arborists to beat the beetle decimating trees in the suburb.
Project Evergreen (the subcommittee established by the PNRA) member Martin Pengelly said the association has inspected all 1 675 street trees in the suburb and identified 865 as being infested by the borer. Sixty two per cent of the infested trees are London planes.
Pengelly said the committee is working with City Parks to address the problem and would therefore only remove dead street trees. He instructed residents not to treat or remove any pavement trees as these are the property of the City. Louverdis mentioned that it is up to residents whether they will remove or treat trees on their properties.
“We need to establish a protocol to deal with the trees. We need to develop a budget to assist City Parks and identify curative actions,” said Pengelly.
Associate professor of microbiology at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute at the University of Pretoria (Fabi) Dr Wilhelm de Beer described the beetle as indiscriminate concerning which trees it decided to inhabit. He said the little-known beetle is one of 6 000 species of the ambrosia beetle.
“It goes for everything. We have worked with many forest insects and have never seen an insect that has attacked and killed so many trees,” said De Beer.
Having been to all outbreak areas in South Africa, De Beer said the beetle will soon change the tree landscape of the country. He also highlighted stress factors aggravating infestation including drought, flooding, presence of other diseases, root or stem damage and heat.
“The biggest way to fight this beetle is through management, not chemical control,” he said, emphasising the fact that chemical control is too expensive.
He said the Department of Environmental Affairs has dedicated R5 million to conduct research in KwaZulu-Natal and Tsitsikamma and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has committed some funding for research at local universities.
“There is no quick fix. International collaboration is vital to bring about change.”
Details: www.parktownnorth.org
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