From their extensive search of Fern Gully, Gwen and Kathy located just 6 trees which showed signs of heavy defoliation. We believe much of the damage to trees in Fern Gully has not been caused by flying-foxes alone. As we outline in our solutions section , much of the responsibility for damage lies with the Gardens management fo failing to mitigate the damage to individual trees. In contrast, the Sydney Botanic Gardens manage their trees through regular pruning and fertilising. Given that most of the trees in Fern Gully are not growing in their natural habitat, they need more care, not less, than specimens in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Brisbane where there are also GHFF colonies.
Healthy trees can withstand more stress than damaged and neglected trees.
For example, flying foxes play an important role in pollination and seed dispersal inside and outside the Gardens. We also believe that opening up the tree canopy in patches is beneficial to forests, as it allows light to penetrate down to the understorey whichs promotes germination and new growth. Flying foxes can also capable of bringing back seed from a 50km or more radius around the colony site, thus increasing the biodiversity of the plant species found in the understorey. Based on the observations of Gwen and Kathy, we argue that MBG has deliberately misinformed the public about the damage flying-foxes have caused to trees in Fern Gully, as well as the threat they pose to the Gardens in general. There are many sound and effective management options that could be adopted by the MBG to preserve the future well being of both trees and bats in the Gardens.