Jul 27
This is fantastic news and we will give Simon all the help that he needs. Now we need to convince NP that, in Byron Shire, we want to spray love, no pesticides. We understand the size of the task ahead to manage the land, however the health of the environment as whole have to considered to support our on specie needs. Also, in case of Tyagarah Nature Reserve we, Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare is prepare to help no just by fiscally engaging on the work of removing Bitou Bush, but also in applying for grants to employ local.
There is a growing outcry against the aerial spraying of Bitou bush in Tyagarah Nature Reserve for the first time.
Apiarists are joining the fight to stop it. Local bee keeper Garry Rogers, who sells his honey at all our local markets from “The Honey Wagon”, is not taking any risks regarding his bees. This local apiarist has removed his hives from Tyagarah this week to avoid contamination from the upcoming aerial spraying with the pesticide metsulfuron-methyl. This spraying could take place during any period of fine weather between now and 16 August, starting 870 m from the reserve north boundary, all the away to Belongil Creek. Lighthouse and Tallow Beach Cosy Corner are included in the spraying schedule.
“I have moved my bees to Lennox Head and that has being very inconvenient and stressful for me”, said Rogers at the Mullumbimby Farmers market, on Friday, the 26th of July.
Apiarist Garry Rogers it is not alone in his concern. “The pesticide issue in itself is much more complex than we have been led to be believe,” says Dennis van Engelsdorp, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland.
A new study shows that the interaction of multiple pesticides is affecting bee health.
“It’s a lot more complicated than just one product, which means of course the solution does not lie in just banning one class of product.” The study found another complication in efforts to save the bees: US honey bees, which are descendants of European bees, do not bring home pollen from native North American crops but collect bee chow from nearby weeds and wildflowers. That pollen, however, was also contaminated with pesticides even though those plants were not the target of spraying.
Scientists discover what’s killing the bees and it’s worse than you thought
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