Launch of World Wide Wattle website

26/3/04
Information on one of Australia's most important botanical treasures - the wattle - is now available online with the launch of the World Wide Wattle website.
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance yesterday launched the website at an Environmental Expo in the Wheatbelt town of Dalwallinu, which is attempting to develop an environmental interpretive centre for the region.
The aim of the website is to deliver authoritative information on all Australian species of Acacia in order to inform, educate and promote the conservation, use and enjoyment of this important group of plants.
"The website provides information for a wide range of users, both professional and amateur, including taxonomists, ecologists, foresters, horticulturalists, naturalists, and indeed, anyone who simply wants to learn more about this fascinating group of plants," Mr Chance said.
"The site also has a special area for school children where a wealth of project information can be found."
World Wide Wattle is a collaborative project involving the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Shire of Dalwallinu and the Canberra-based Australian Tree Seed Centre of CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products.
"These three organisations are to be congratulated for providing the funds, staff and infrastructure support which have enabled this valuable resource to be made available on the Internet," the Minister said.
He said although World Wide Wattle dealt primarily with Australian acacias, it had global relevance, because our wattle species were grown in about 70 countries.
"Fast-growing Australian acacias are cultivated, both commercially and socially, as important sources of timber, pulpwood and firewood, for reclaiming salt-affected land, as a source of tannin for making leather and as food," Mr Chance said.
"Within Australia there is an increasing interest for a more comprehensive use of acacia. For example, a recent project identified many wattles that may have potential for wide-scale planting in semi-arid regions of southern Australia to help arrest increasing salinity in these regions."
The 'AcaciaSearch' book, also launched last night and authored by Bruce Maslin from CALM and Maurice MacDonald from CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, highlights the most likely species that can be used in this regard.
The World Wide Wattle website can be found at http://www.worldwidewattle.com
Minister's Office - 9213 6700