While a dead tree may look unsightly to some, local wildlife see it as a place to call home.
We’ve created some signage to help our community understand why some trees that are dead or declining are very much alive, serving as a valuable habitat and food source for a range of fauna.
The City of Cockburn’s Urban Forest Team has led a push to create signs that can be used occasionally to help educate the community about the vital role of dead trees as habitat.
City of Cockburn Urban Forest Supervisor Logan Vickers said his team was often contacted by members of the public asking for dead or declining trees to be removed.
“Not everyone realises why we leave certain trees standing when it is safe to do so, and while the signage notifies the public of the presence of a habitat tree, it is also a useful education tool,” Mr Vickers said.
“Dead or declining trees are often referred to as habitat trees because they add to local biodiversity and enrich the ecosystem with a range of insects and fungi, and as shelter and camouflage against predators.
“You’ll often notice pink and grey galah and black cockatoo using dead trees for nests, which gives the trees a high retention value.
“We don’t intend using these signs too often, because people like to enjoy nature without intrusive signage, but it’s sometimes useful to remind people that we are also living side by side with nature.
“It’s not a blanket rule for all dead trees but we do strive to save those with value as potential bird nesting sites, and where they have lizard or insect populations that may be beneficial to linking areas with stands of trees.
“Retained habitat trees also support microorganisms that contribute to nutrient cycling and ecosystem health. They form the foundation of food webs that support birds, mammals and reptiles in an urban landscape.”
City of Cockburn Urban Forest Officer Mohamed Saleh said as trees aged, they naturally developed features such as hollows, cracks, loose bark and decaying timber.
“These features are rarely observed in an urban environment but are critical for many native species,” Mr Saleh said.
“In some cases, a retained habitat tree can continue providing ecological benefits for decades while replacement trees establish and mature.
“Large, mature trees are particularly valuable because they can provide habitat features that may take more than 100 years to develop naturally.
“Hollows are a limited resource in urban areas and are used by a wide range of native fauna for nesting, shelter and protection from predators and extreme weather.
“Our team often retains sections with hollows from larger older trees not suitable for retention. These can be installed on suitable nesting trees.
“While replacement planting remains essential to growing future canopy cover, retaining suitable habitat trees allows the City to provide immediate ecological benefits while newly planted trees mature.”
Mr Saleh said habitat trees provided more than ecological benefits.
“They can also contribute to the character of an area, helping tell a story of the local landscape and a stronger connection between the community and nature,” he said.
“Retaining suitable habitat trees allows residents to observe natural cycles of ageing, decay and renewal, while supporting biodiversity within the urban forest.”