FAQ

Macadamias natural distribution is confined to coastal ranges and foothills of SE Queensland and NE New South Wales. Macadamia nuts were taken from wild trees in Australia and used to establish the Hawaiian industry.

Actually, Australia pioneered growing of Macadamias in the late 19th century however native pests and disease together with wildfires soon doomed this effort. Hawaii has ideal growing conditions for Macadamias and few of the native pests and disease problems in present in Australia.

Macadamia nut farms grow trees that have predominantly been developed from Hawaiian cultivars which have been derived from nuts taken from just a handful of wild trees of two of the four species of Macadamia.  However, all four Macadamia species are under threat of extinction in the wild.

Macadamia nut tree cultivars contain a tiny proportion of the genetic diversity present in the wild trees which have evolved over millions of years. The genetic diversity  in wild trees represents a resource for development of superior Macadamia nuts and a source of security against pests and diseases which could devastate the nut industry trees.

Saving Macadamias in the wild requires conservation of their habitats, which also contain many more rare and threatened species. Rainforest covers only about 5% of Australia but contains more than 50% of our land based biodiversity and form a significant part of our natural heritage which must be protected for future generations.

Knowledge is power. By informing yourself of the dire situation facing Macadamias, you have acquired the capacity to contribute to the answer though informing others, casting your vote, getting involved or making a donation towards conservation of Macadamias.