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The Bahamas: Islands Threatened by Invasion

 

Melaleuca’s papery bark

 

Support The Nature Conservancy’s work in the Bahamas

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With your help we can preserve the forests and oceans of th Bahamas.

An Aggressive Invader
melaleuca

Melealeuca trees grow up to 65 feet tall and produce thousands of seeds each year.

Bahamian Pine Forest


Over seventy species are listed as invasive in The Bahamas, and the threat is increasing. As with many island ecosystems, species in The Bahamas have evolved in relative isolation making them especially vulnerable to the introduction of new species.  Native species are unable to adapt quickly enough to respond to aggressive invaders that take over habitats and destroy the natural balance.

The melaleuca tree, also known as the Paperbark or Punk tree, is a particular threat. Originally from Australia, it grows in dense clusters, draining wetlands and starving native plants of food and light. The Nature Conservancy is working with the Bahamian government to develop an integrated approach to controlling melaleuca invasions. The Conservancy participated in an aerial survey of melalueca populations on four islands – Andros, the Berry Islands, Grand Bahama and New Providence. The results of the survey were used to develop a draft Bahamas National Melaleuca Control Plan which provides guidance on prioritization of control sites and information on control methods. The Bahamas National Trust will begin melaleuca control efforts at Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama in the near future.

By acting quickly to contain the spread of melaleuca, The Nature Conservancy and partners can prevent the problem developing further. The example of Florida shows the damage it can inflict over time. The tree arrived in Florida in the early 1900’s and has since overtaken hundreds of thousands of acres in The Everglades and control efforts cost the state more than $2 million annually.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Randy Tate/TNC (Bahamian pine forest); Photo © Forest & Kim Starr, United States Geological Survey, www.forestryimages.org (Melaleuca’s papery bark); Amy Ferriter, South Florida Water Management District, www.forestryimages.org (Melaleua trees).