Bell miner Associated Dieback in NSW: is this a threatening process with serious implications for biodiversity in NSW?
Bell miner Associated Dieback is having a serious impact on Eucalypt forests from Victoria, throughout eastern NSW and into southern Queensland. In northern NSW there is an estimated 2.5 million hectares of Eucalypt forest at risk of decline due to BMAD. The extent and conservation implications of canopy loss due to dieback is largely unknown, although the potential effects are considerable. Surveys in several sites in NSW indicates that avian diversity in BMAD site are low, although when Bell miners are removed avian diversity rapidly improves. BMAD is also known to seriously affect one threatened Eucalypt species (E. scorparia) and is recorded as a key threat to E. dunnei, currently nominated for listing as an endangered community. The impact of further canopy species fragmentation and removal by BMAD will have implications for forest biodiversity. The BMAD Working Group is currently funding research and adaptive management trials to prevent, control and restore affected BMAD areas. A central theme of these field trials on State Forest, National Park and private property is the removal of Lantana understorey with an aim of manipulating Bell miner habitat. This habitat removal aims to reduce Bell miners for the purpose of increasing the health of forests currently dieing due to psyllid attack. Psyllids that prosper under the aggressive protection by Bell miners.