Paul Barber

Tree declines are now a common phenomenon across a wide range of eucalypt species throughout Australia. There is considerable concern about the rate of spread and intensity of these declines and the subsequent impact they are having on ecosystem function and health. In Western Australia the most prominent declines occurin Eucalyptus gomphocephala (tuart) and Eucalyptus wandoo (wandoo), although E. loxophleba (York gum), E. marginata (jarrah), E. rudis (river gum), E. salmonophloia (salmon gum) and Corymbia calophylla (marri) are also impacted upon. Most of these tree declines appear to be due to complex interactions of biotic and abiotic factors with no single cause. These include: (i) habitat loss and fragmentation, (ii) changes in land management, e.g. fire management, forestry practices, (iii) changes in hydrology, (iv) pests and pathogens and (v) climate change. In order to bring about the effective mitigation and management of these declines it is critical to conduct well planned and integrated research across a range of scientific disciplines. Without a coordinated approach, research activities will be ad hoc and short term.