About 12,000 ornamental trees risk becoming Canberra's next cane toad
Twelve thousand Callery pears planted across Canberra risk spreading into nature reserves and becoming invasive.
Environmental groups have warned about the problem. Ornamental Callery pear trees have been planted thousands of times across Canberra and are already escaping into wild areas.
Friends of Mount Majura ParkCare told a Legislative Assembly inquiry that about 12,000 Callery pears have been planted across Canberra. Evidence of the trees spreading into natural areas is beginning to emerge.
The species is already classified as an environmental weed in Victoria. In the ACT, Callery pears have not been declared a pest plant.
So they remain protected under the Urban Forest Act. That protection means the government can still plant them.
The group is calling on the ACT Government to stop planting them. They want invasive species removed from tree protection laws before they spread further.
- 12,000 Callery pears
- Trees planted in Canberra
- Classified as environmental weed
- Status in Victoria
- Urban Forest Act
- Current ACT protection
Why it mattersOnce invasive trees take hold, they choke out native plants and wildlife. Removing them becomes expensive and difficult.
AustraliaIf Callery pears become established across Canberra's bushland and reserves, locals will see native wildflowers and animals disappear, and council will face costly removal programs.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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