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Australia's endangered gum tree migrated for conservation

CGTN

00:44

Morrisby's gum, an endangered tree species endemic to southeastern Tasmania in Australia, was migrated to a new habitat so that it can be saved.

Due to stress from drought and wildlife browsing, the species, or Eucalyptus morrisbyi, is at imminent risk of extinction in the wild. Its population has declined from around 2,000 trees to just six mature ones in a seven-year period. It is listed as critically endangered in the Red List of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

To maintain and boost its population, a migration plan proposed by local scientists is underway. Scientists at the University of Tasmania used climate modeling to predict areas that Morrisby's gum could inhabit under climate change. 

Then, a stand of 1,000 young trees was planted in new areas, 100 kilometers from their home habitat, where they are better able to adapt to the changing climate.

"I don't want to see eucalypts go extinct under my watch, eucalypts are an iconic species of the Australian bush, and to have a eucalypt go extinct on our doorstep would be a real shame," said Dr Bec Jones, plant sciences lecturer from the University of Tasmania.

(If you have specific expertise and want to contribute, or if you have a topic of interest that you'd like to share with us, please email us at nature@cgtn.com.)

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