What is DIEBACK?

Phytophthora DIEBACK is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity across the Southwest Australia. Of the thousands of plant species known to occur in this area nearly half of them have been classified as susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi; the soil-borne micro-organism which kills by destroying the root systems of plants.

P. cinnamomi was first identified as the culprit causing dieback in the jarrah forest over 40 years ago. The disease is now spreading rampantly across many ecosystems in the region, being transported in soil and water.

Its spread has been relentless and unfortunately few people either grasp the magnitude of this biological disaster or appreciate the great range of plant species being lost from woodlands, heaths and forests.

It is important for communities, organisations and government agencies to team up and protect areas that still remain healthy and free of the disease

South Coast NRM Actions

Project Dieback

Phytophthora DIEBACK acts like a biological bulldozer by killing susceptible plant species in forests, woodlands and heathlands. The disease already has wiped out much of the Southwest Australia's flora and is infecting new areas every day. Irreversible changes have taken place to many ecosystems and are still occurring.

Together communities and government are taking action to protect vegetation from infection and invasion by this devastating pathogen scientifically known as Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands.

The aim of Project DIEBACK is to protect the biodiversity of special areas at risk from Phytophthora DIEBACK for all five affected Natural Resource Management Regions in southwest Australia. These regions are South Coast, Swan, Avon, Northern Agricultural and South West.

Project DIEBACK goals:

Increase awareness of current impact and future threat of Phytophthora DIEBACK to biodiversity in the Southwest Australia.
Promote working together, identifying and managing valued areas, to protect them in the long term from the disease.

South Coast Region was the first to be selected to develop the project.

The Project Dieback website provides detailed information about Project Dieback in the South Coast Region completed so far. The website also provides an insight into the disease and what you can do to help.

Two important outputs from the project are the production of a comprehensive Dieback Atlas and a list of Susceptible Plants for the region. Visit the project website for more information.