A rare Australian Wollemi Pine has a new home in Canada, due primarily to the work of officers from the Departments of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) and Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra and the Canadian Government.
Presented as gift to the people of Canada to mark 150 years since the Canadian Confederation in 1867, the pine is one of the world’s oldest and rarest tree species.
Head of Plant Biosecurity at DAWR, Marion Healy said the Wollemi Pine was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in NSW in 1994. Previously it had been known only through 90 to 200 million year old fossils.
Dr Healy congratulated those involved in the behind-the-scenes work that allowed the pine to travel safely around the world.
“This tree spent the first seven years of its life at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra where it grew to a height of two metres — only a fraction of its potential height of 40 metres,” Dr Healy said.
“While a shame to ruin the surprise, it was important to work with Canadian officials to develop a thorough treatment and handling plan in order to head off potential biosecurity threats and ensure the tree survived the journey.”
She said the tree was treated with a fungicide and insecticide to ensure that unwanted insects and plant material couldn’t hitch a ride on the tree and threaten Canada’s agricultural industries and environment.
“The tree is believed to live for around 500 years, so I hope it will be on hand to help Canada to celebrate its 650thanniversary,” Dr Healy said.
