Local fumes as 'decades-old' tree that housed vulnerable species chopped down

Loss of habitat is a major issue affecting native Aussie wildlife and as society continues to expand, there's becoming less and less room for our animals.

In 2023, more of Australia’s wild places, creatures and plants were added to the nation's threatened species list than ever before, and, environmental experts have long warned that drastic action must be taken now to combat the issue.

With that in mind, it's understandable that when a decades-old tree is cut down people would be rightly upset. Such was the case in Freshwater on Sydney's Northern Beaches this week, where one wildlife rescuer took aim at the council for removing a huge fig tree, which she said provided food and shelter for flying-foxes — a vulnerable species — in addition to currawongs and possums.

Local fed-up of precious trees being cut down

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, local resident Edwina Laginestra said she was "tired of the big old trees being removed around here". She believes it's likely for superficial reasons, such as to give residents ocean views. Laginestra said she regularly rescues flying-foxes, many of which she treats for starvation due to the dwindling levels of proper food sources for the animals, like fig trees.

"There's been a number of trees that have been cut down for people's views and under the excuse of safety," Laginestra told Yahoo, explaining that when she spoke to the contracted arborist who cut down the tree this week, she was told council ordered its removal so the wall behind it could be inspected.

"I said, 'well, surely you can inspect the wall without taking the tree down' — and he goes 'yeah' and I said 'you know it's the roots that's holding the wall up' and he said 'yeah I told council that'. That's what he said. Laginestra said the tree would have been about 20 to 30 metres high.

Council explains why it cut down old fig tree

A Northern Beaches spokesperson told Yahoo News the tree was removed because it's root system was deemed a threat to the structural integrity of the sandstone wall holding up the road above. The spokesperson said council highly values the natural environment and only remove trees when necessary, citing safety reasons with regard to the fig tree in Freshwater.

The trees and surrounding vegetation were also removed as a preventative measure to keep critical retaining wall assets in safe condition, the spokesperson explained. Council said they informed local residents of the tree's removal in early March, though Laginestra disputes this.

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Several species of animals inhabited decades-old fig tree

"I do know that animals used it too, there was a currawong nest and it'd been there for years, they come back every year," Laginestra said. "I know that the possums use it. Then there's the flying foxes — they're the ones I think are most important because we've had starvation events this year.

"Wildlife carers in the area had received 60 baby flying-foxes this year alone and all underweight. So to cut down the fig, that is one of their food sources in Sydney, it just seems like they don't think at all about wildlife."

In addition to the fact that the spot is now "an eyesore", Laginestra criticised the lack of community consultation before the tree was chopped. "We were not warned in any way. There was no letterbox drop. They just blocked the road at seven in the morning and then it was gone by 11."

Australia's native species under threat

Australia has the worst mammalian extinction record in the world and nature campaigners say the high number of endangered species listings shows Australia’s nature protection laws are failing.

Flying-foxes in particular play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems in good health. They pollinate flowers and disperse seeds as they forage on the nectar and pollen. In Australia, three different species of flying-foxes are listed as vulnerable — one critically endangered.

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