As I pedal across Australia on my #eBike4Australia journey, I’m constantly reminded of the beauty and fragility of our natural landscapes. But some sights are harder to take in than others. As I rode through Ouyen the other day, I was confronted with a heartbreaking scene: towering eucalyptus trees, their trunks skeletal and bare, standing dead across the landscape. Beneath them, smaller shrubs and plants were still alive, but the giants were dead.
This is what climate change looks like in real-time.
The Dying Giants
Eucalyptus trees are iconic, known for their resilience in Australia’s harsh landscapes. But as I witnessed in Ouyen, our mighty trees are succumbing to the pressures of prolonged droughts, flash droughts, and extreme heat.
Trees, much like humans, have their limits. Without consistent water, their internal systems break down. In times of extreme heat, they become even more vulnerable. These stresses combine, overwhelming trees’ ability to survive. It’s like when a person is exposed to extreme heat without enough water - they risk heat stroke, and their body struggles to maintain normal function.
This dieback isn’t just limited to one location. Across Australia, forests and woodlands are suffering the same fate. As temperatures rise and rainfall becomes more erratic, our ancient ecosystems are starting to collapse. And the effects ripple further.
Flow-On Effects for Other Species
The death of large eucalyptus trees has profound impacts on the biodiversity that depends on them. Birds, in particular, are feeling the brunt. Many species rely on eucalyptus forests for shelter, nesting sites, and food. The loss of these trees means fewer places to build nests, less nectar to feed on, fewer insects to eat, and fewer safe havens from predators.
As I’ve cycled through these areas, I’ve noticed a worrying lack of bird activity. Without the tall trees, bird species are forced to move on. And as ecosystems unravel, species that once thrived in balance with their environment are now facing new challenges.
Other animals, from small mammals to insects, also depend on the trees for survival. The ripple effects of tree dieback are profound, altering entire ecosystems in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
The Climate Connection: Drought, Heat, and Extreme Weather
The root of this problem lies in our changing climate. Prolonged droughts drain deep water reserves that trees rely on to survive. Flash droughts - sudden, intense dry periods - can strike without warning, further stressing the trees’ ability to recover. And extreme heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent, push trees to their breaking point.
These conditions create a vicious cycle. Once a big trees die, the smaller plants and shrubs underneath may survive for a time, but they too eventually feel the effects of a changing climate. And without the shade and protection of large trees, the ground becomes hotter, drier, and less hospitable to life.
It’s a pattern we’re seeing more and more: once-thriving forests and woodlands withering away as climate change tightens its grip.
A Human Parallel
In many ways, trees are not so different from us. They need water and stable temperatures to thrive. When they’re deprived of these, their systems begin to fail - just as ours do when we’re exposed to extreme heat and dehydration.
Heat stroke in humans occurs when the body can no longer regulate its temperature. Without water to cool ourselves, our internal systems shut down. We can’t metabolise. Similarly, when trees are deprived of water during a heatwave, their leaves scorch, their ability to photosynthesise diminishes, and their roots struggle to take up what little moisture remains in the soil. They get cooked.
The fate of these eucalyptus giants is a powerful reminder that climate change doesn’t just affect abstract systems or distant ecosystems. It affects living, breathing beings, whether they are trees, birds, or humans.
A Call for Climate Action
Seeing these dead eucalyptus trees was a sobering moment for me on my #eBike4Australia journey. It’s a stark reminder that the climate crisis isn’t a problem of the future - it’s happening now. And its impacts are being felt in the heart of our country, threatening species, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
We can’t afford to wait. If we want to protect the diversity of life that calls Australia home, we need to take bold, urgent action. That means accelerating the transition to renewable energy, stopping the extraction of coal and gas, and protecting our remaining natural landscapes from further destruction.
These trees can’t speak for themselves. But we can be their voice and the voice of all the species that rely on them. The time to act is now!
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