Letter to Marin "Buzz" from Cathleen Dornison, re: destruction of eucalyptus trees

A few months ago the Point Reyes Light newspaper published a two-part article on statewide plans to eradicate all Eucalyptus trees because they are considered dangerous and non-native to the state. Apparently many agencies throughout the state, from state parks to transit authorities to city and local park maintenance agencies have signed on to this plan.



Originally I wrote a letter to the editor of the paper stating the unmentioned need of local honeybees to utilize the nectar of the Eucalyptus trees to replenish their winter supply of honey at a critical time in the hive due to its rapidly increasing brood.



On January 15th www.milliontrees.wordpress.com picked up my letter and printed it along with additional information that I think is important for us all to know. Apparently these many agencies use Garlon, with the active ingredient triclopyr, to kill the roots of Eucalyptus trees that have been removed. Garlon is toxic to bees.



As an aside, the Marin Municipal Water District quit using all pesticides in 2005. It hired a consultant who determined that Garlon was the most toxic to honeybees of all the pesticides they had used until that time. Apparently they are seeking approval to start using Roundup again.



Anyway, I could go on listing agencies and how much they use of this chemical, but my point is this: The honeybee is already in serious trouble with CCD. Now we see a move to wipe out a necessary nectar source for bees as well as the release of vast amounts of a pesticide known to be very toxic to them.



It appears the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Perhaps we need to rally the hive owners and honeybee supporters throughout the state to educate the public and these various agencies as to the effects of their potential actions.



As I said in my letter, “Cut down all these Eucalyptus trees and the fate of thousands of hives of bees, and thus the continued pollination of our food crops, may be in serious jeopardy.”



And as milliontrees.wordpress.com stated, “Once again, we can’t make sense of the destructive actions of those who are damaging nature in the name of “restoring” nature.”



Cathleen Dorinson

Pt Reyes Station