Prince Alfred College students remove pest pines on Yorke Peninsula
A group of Prince Alfred College (PAC) students removed more than 2000 Aleppo Pines from the outskirts of Marion Bay recently in partnership with Natural Resources Northern and Yorke (NRNY).
The aleppo pine was declared a weed under the Natural Resources Management Act (2004) in July this year.
NRM spokesperson Deborah Furbank says the tree removal undertaken by the 27 students has had a significant impact on the environment.
"The students were absolutely amazing, the impact they made in just two hours was significant," she said.
"The partnership between PAC, NRNY and with the Yorke Peninsula Feral Trees Management Group is providing a great opportunity for the students to play a hands-on role in making a real difference to the environment."
Native to the Mediterranean, the Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) was introduced for forestry, but has also been used widely as a shade and shelterbelt tree.
"The Southern Yorke Peninsula provides ideal growing conditions for the Aleppo Pine, and as a result, there are now a significant number of self-sown or feral pines in the region," Ms Furbank said.
"The tree roots damage roads and fences, compete with native vegetation and are a safety hazard."
Natural Resources Northern and Yorke also worked with the students at Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Parkwhere the students were given a presentation on beach-nesting birds and marine debris.
"After a short information session, the students became involved in monitoring of Hooded Plovers on beaches within Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Parkwith me and the community ranger," Ms Furbank said.
"The partnership with PAC that has been running since the beginning of the year, is already having a significant and positive impact on the Southern Yorke Peninsula environment."
