Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Mar 4, 2020 15:49:02 GMT 2
(.#A.062).- Australia, dinosaur trees saved thanks to a secret mission.
Australia: The "dinosaur trees" were saved thanks to a secret mission.
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 17, 2020, 10 h 55 min
Credits: HO / AFP
There are only a handful of Wollemi pines left in the world, all found in Australia. These trees, present on Earth for at least 200 million years, have recently been the subject of a successful and secret rescue operation.
Wollemi pines, there are less than 200 left in the wild, all hidden in a gorge of the Blue Mountains northwest of Sydney. The area has been particularly affected by the fires that have ravaged the country since September 2019. As thousands of firefighters fought the flames in the region, a small team was formed behind the scenes to try to save these "dinosaur trees", as they are known, already present 200 million years ago.
"This environmental protection mission is unprecedented," said Matt Kean, New South Wales’s Minister of the Environment, in a statement.
All the trees have been saved
The operation was carried out in the utmost silence, since the location of the pines is a well-kept secret. Local authorities wish to protect them from any contamination that may be brought by visitors. They also want to prevent new growth from being trampled on.
As the flames dangerously approached the grove at the end of December 2019, bomber planes dropped flame retardants around the area to be protected. Specialized firefighters were also dropped into the gorge by helicopter to set up an irrigation system capable of keeping the grove as humid as possible.
The operation, the details of which were released this Wednesday only, was a real success.
“When the fire went through, we had a few days of thick smoke, so we couldn't tell if the pines had been hit. We all waited while holding our breath, said the environment minister. Finally, while some of the trees around the area were charred by the flames, the grove was saved from the fires. ”
A Wollemi pine. Credits: Björn S… / Flickr
Nevertheless, if the rescue of the Wollemi pines is indeed very good news, the toll of the fires in Australia remains incredibly heavy, while the rain finally arrives.
Since October, forest fires have killed 28 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and burned 10 million hectares. More than a billion animals are also believed to have died, possibly pushing dozens of species vulnerable to extinction.
F I N .
Australia: The "dinosaur trees" were saved thanks to a secret mission.
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 17, 2020, 10 h 55 min
Credits: HO / AFP
There are only a handful of Wollemi pines left in the world, all found in Australia. These trees, present on Earth for at least 200 million years, have recently been the subject of a successful and secret rescue operation.
Wollemi pines, there are less than 200 left in the wild, all hidden in a gorge of the Blue Mountains northwest of Sydney. The area has been particularly affected by the fires that have ravaged the country since September 2019. As thousands of firefighters fought the flames in the region, a small team was formed behind the scenes to try to save these "dinosaur trees", as they are known, already present 200 million years ago.
"This environmental protection mission is unprecedented," said Matt Kean, New South Wales’s Minister of the Environment, in a statement.
All the trees have been saved
The operation was carried out in the utmost silence, since the location of the pines is a well-kept secret. Local authorities wish to protect them from any contamination that may be brought by visitors. They also want to prevent new growth from being trampled on.
As the flames dangerously approached the grove at the end of December 2019, bomber planes dropped flame retardants around the area to be protected. Specialized firefighters were also dropped into the gorge by helicopter to set up an irrigation system capable of keeping the grove as humid as possible.
The operation, the details of which were released this Wednesday only, was a real success.
“When the fire went through, we had a few days of thick smoke, so we couldn't tell if the pines had been hit. We all waited while holding our breath, said the environment minister. Finally, while some of the trees around the area were charred by the flames, the grove was saved from the fires. ”
A Wollemi pine. Credits: Björn S… / Flickr
Nevertheless, if the rescue of the Wollemi pines is indeed very good news, the toll of the fires in Australia remains incredibly heavy, while the rain finally arrives.
Since October, forest fires have killed 28 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and burned 10 million hectares. More than a billion animals are also believed to have died, possibly pushing dozens of species vulnerable to extinction.
F I N .
