So much macadamia habitat has been cleared in and around Brisbane, and yet old trees survive in backyards, acreage blocks, farmland and creek and bushland reserves. Some of these trees may be the last individuals of lost populations. We are calling on Brisbane residents to help us find the old trees – can you think of any?
If you know of an old macadamia tree, please register it on the Wild Macadamia Hunt data portal.
Answer the questions as fully as possible and upload some pictures of the tree/s. Or contact Healthy Land and Water staff by phone on 07 3816 9720.
We will then assess whether or not the tree is likely to be an original wild macadamia that is not already on our database. If we think it is, we will send you out a leaf collection kit. The kit contains instructions on obtaining permission to take a sample, how to collect and supply leaves, storage materials and a reply-paid envelope for returning the sample.
Finding the old wild trees, taking leaf samples and then mapping the different genetic identities will help us learn more about the original wild populations. How wide spread were they, how closely were they related to each other, or were they already forming distinct population groups in isolated patches of rainforest before the start of large-scale clearing to establish Brisbane City?
Join the hunt to help find the answers. For more information, download the Project Information Sheet and visit The Wild Macadamia Hunt website. Share your story on the Wild Macadamia Hunters facebook page.
Healthy Land and Water is leading a fantastic collaboration between the Brisbane City Council and the Macadamia Conservation Trust, supported by Hort Innovation and the Australian Macadamia Society. Start talking to your friends – let’s find the old trees before they disappear.
MCT brokers partnership to protect the rarest macadamia