Australia's king eucalyptus | DW Documentary

Vast areas of Australia are covered by forests of giant eucalyptus. According to the Aborigines, the ‘king’ eucalyptus, which can grow up to 100 meters high, has mythical power.

This mythical power is said to originate from the so-called Dreamtime, the time before the creation of the world, in which only spiritual and immaterial things existed. For the Aborigines, the eucalyptus tree symbolizes a connection between heaven and earth and enables communication with the spirits.

Another special feature of the eucalyptus forest is its relationship to fire: eucalyptus leaves contain essential oils, which in turn consist of highly flammable mixtures. The bark of the tree is thus highly flammable and acts as a fire accelerant. As a result, the tree ignites fires beneath it. These fires are necessary for the renewal of the forest: Light and root competition are reduced and nutrient-rich ash is produced.

To ensure their survival in a forest that regularly burns, the inhabitants have developed cooperative strategies. After a fire, new fronds sprout from the top of the tree fern, in a kind of basket. Some trees drop their seeds into these baskets, where they then germinate. This gives them a height advantage. Their roots wrap around the fern and the trees grow, winning the battle for sunlight. The animal world also contributes to the stability of the ecosystem: Lyrebirds rummage through the undergrowth with their huge claws, promoting the regrowth of new plants. Rabbit kangaroos feed on truffles that grow on the roots of the eucalyptus trees. In doing so, they distribute the spores of the fungi that supply the trees with water and nutrients. In spite of - and precisely because of - the fires, the ecosystem of the eucalyptus forest regulates itself.

However, humans are disturbing this natural balance. Global warming and humans‘ use of forests are increasingly leading to large fires. These destroy millions of hectares of forest -- and spare hardly any living creatures. A natural system that is thousands of years old is in danger.

#documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #australia #trees
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