permaculture

["Australia Felix Permaculture" <pcorgbgo@bendigo.net.au>]

Hello Stephan,

Any plant that effects the economy of Australia is listed as an "Economic
Plant" regardless of its use. The CSIRO has published a book: "The Economic
Plants of Australia" with Prosopis glandulosa, P. juliflora, and P. pallida
listed together with their uses. These include fodder, poison, weed,
shelter, together with their lifeform description and a distribution map.
Prososis spp. are illegal plants in at least two states of Australia and as
such effect the agricultural economy as well as the some regenerating
"natural" systems where it is displacing/replacing native analogue species.
I for one can see the high positive economic use of this genus, however the
law is another thing - this being reflected in it being classified as a
noxious weed, and therefore forbidden from cultivation. Another onus with
noxious weed classification is that the landholder must eradicate the plants
from the property and/or roadsides (these being the landholders
responsibility). This is required under the Catchment and Land Protection
Act (1984) in the state of Victoria (my home state). Another example of a
"useful" plant being similarly struck is Gleditsia triancanthos (honey
locust). It is classified as a noxious weed in Queensland where it appears
post land clearing to form dense thickets of thorny vegetation that are
direct analogues of the native vegetation (usually Acacia spp.) cleared for
grazing in the first place. The eco-fascists go crazy over this one -
conjuring demonic images of ultra-thorny Gleditsia going sick, and
threatening to take over the continent.....We plant lots of Gleditsia - have
done for many years - although it has apparently a different life form down
here. We also plants lots of Robinia pseudoacacia in dryland situations,
although as an "escape" it is more prominent in this climate.

Thanks,

Yours and Growing,

Darren J. Dohety
www.australiafelix.com.au
----- Original Message -----
From: stephan leimroth <slimerote@yahoo.com>
To: permaculture <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 5:00 AM
Subject: Re: interplanting with dryland legume trees


> Thank you for your responses to my interplanting
> question.
>
> Darren, could you explain what you mean when you wrote
> that mesquite is "an 'economic plant' by virtue of its
> Noxious Weed status" and that you were therefore
> unable to use it?
>
> Scott, do you know if they were trying to eradicate
> mesquite in West Texas to make way for annual grasses
> for cattle?
>
> kind regards,
>
> stephan leimroth
>
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