Dying palm trees

[robbo]

Panorama Palms

Does anybody know if the palms are still standing at the Panorama? It would be so sad if they had to be destroyed and i know the hotel owners would be so sad as the hotel grew up side by side with its palm trees. I always enjoy sitting under the panorama palms sipping on my drinks every year. I live in hope but it doesn't look too good. See you in July.

 

[debz1]

Yes i am afraid it is GL. All the palms in front of the church have gone which will have an impact on Sant Antoni and the climbing of the pine tree, i was chatting with a couple of ex-pat friends last night and they brought up a good point as to what are they going to secure the tree to ? , they always used the palms either side of it before.

OMG sparky!! Did they manage to secure the pine tree to something and did someone manage to climb to the top????!!!

 

[Sparky]

Debs....don't panic Mrs mannering the "Pines" is mananaaa and i am orf to me bed now. laterssss

 

[lollipop]

I have never seen the pine tree anchored to anything other than a couple of guys held onto a rope a couple of years back. The tree is usually wedged into the manhole, but we will all see later what happens, and I am sure the local youths will be fighting for the chance to win the prize!!

 

[sws97sdg]

Looks like they maybe some progress in finding a way of controlling the weevil

New insecticide developed to protect trees from Red Palm Weevil

The product developed by labs in Elche will protect trees for a period of six months

The Estación Phoenix palm tree labs in Elche have developed an insecticide which is able to protect the trees from the plague of ‘picudo rojo’, the attack by the Red Palm Weevil which forced 1,600 palm trees to be destroyed in Elche last year.

It’s a product which reaches the leaves after being applied to the base of the trunk of a healthy tree and will protect it from infestation for six months. It’s the longest protection period which has ever been achieved.

La Verdad newspaper reports that the team has been testing the product for the past eight months on palms of more than 4 metres high, and the mortality rate of the Palm Weevil larvae has been 100%.

If a female lands on a leaf to lay her eggs, she will die.
It’s seen as an important step forward in preventing the spread of the plague and is understood to cause no harm to the tree.


Read more: New insecticide developed to protect trees from Red Palm Weevil

 

[Sparky]

Brilliant news SWS, lets hope the powers that be take full advantage of it or will it be too costly . Of course it's too late for trees already dead or infected but maybe some will be saved....i certainly hope so.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

Hopefully it will mean that new palms can be planted and protected at least until a more permanent solution is developed

 

[pollensafan]

Palm trees

HI, Sorry if iv'e missed this thread somewhere else but Having just returned from 10 days in pp i wonder if anyone realises the scale of the problem. From tollo's to the bar llenaire there are app 100 palm's. They are either dead or in the process of dying off. The cause is a beetle from asia which the authoritys have been trying to find a solution to for around 2 years. It lays 5 hundred eggs in the top of the tree and when they hatch they eat in to the palm killing it. once it's in the tree the only solution is to cut the tree down and burn it. The cost per tree 500 euros. The way things are going at the moment they are going to have to rename the place "Stumpensa". I have been trying to picture the front without the palms and it does not bare thinking about.

 

[Sparky]

Hi Pollensafan there is another thread about this here :- http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com/flora-fauna/5653-dying-palm-trees.html
i am afraid that the palm trees have been decimated by this beetle but it is not only PP that is affected, only this week i read an article about the palms in Palma also suffering and even some trees that were treated fell victim to this plague.

 

[Belladonna]

I cannot understand why is costs 500€ to deal with one tree!!??

 

[eleanor]

I cannot understand why is costs 500€ to deal with one tree!!??

And the rest Bella!!!

They have to be registered by only those who are registered to register!
They have to be chopped to a certain level. The ground has to be treated then the tree is taken to Palma by those who have been registered to transport them. They are then registered again in Palma as having been disposed of by a registered person who has followed the correct registered procedure. Then they are burnt at very high temperatures before the ashes are buried - probably at a certain (registered) depth! Wish I could say I was joking!!

No more palm trees in my garden i'm afraid! Unless they are artificial lol

Remember foot and mouth in Uk Bella!!

 

[sunshine]

When will the council realise they have to replace the dead palm trees A.S.A.P or they will loose millions in tourist revenue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[El Gordo]

Loved your post Eleanor

Can anyone post some pictures of the devastation along the seafront and in Gotmar?

I think Sparky is keeping us updated with the square

 

[Sparky]

When will the council realise they have to replace the dead palm trees A.S.A.P or they will loose millions in tourist revenue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi sunshine, it would be pointless to replace the palms until the beetle has been eradicated.

 

[allanglens]

Now, I may be asking for trouble here, but...

I would rather they replaced the palms with native pine trees!

From recollection the palm tree is an import to the islands, and whilst it is quite good to look at, it is the fact that it is ubiquitous that has meant that the infestation has devastated the scenery on the island. So going back to the native species would be a good idea.

I appreciate that the native pines take a longer time to grow and mature, but it would be worth the wait - I think.

allanglens

 

[Bean Counter]

I agree, AllanGlens. As Sparky says, no point planting palms until they've sorted the beetle. And the native pine (pinus halepensis - also known as the Aleppo pine) is a lovely tree.

Only downside is the slower growth - and the possible confusion of having a Pine Walk on both sides of the marina!

 

[Belladonna]

What about an "Olive Tree Walk"?

 

[sunshine]

I agree native pine trees, olive trees or any other tree, but please no stumps!!!!!!

 

[Fencer]

It only costs 500 euros. because.

Government adivice is to have the tree cut and disposed of correctly i.e very high temperature incineration.

Meanwhile whilst the tree is being cut and falling to the floor the beetles are able to fly and escape. (they can fly upto 4 kms at any one time) hence the spread of beetle.
The lava can live in the tree for ten years before they pupate. (this is why it was not discovered sooner).

As for disposal. has anyone been along the new bypass past the nursing home (recently opened) when you get to the Llenaire roundabout look to your right and you will see all the palms that have been cut down by the town hall in clear plastic bags waiting for incineration. You might even notice smoke rising. This is where they are burning the trees. So not only are home owners (plagued properties) being advised by the governement officials but they are being ignored by the same incompetent body.

Pollensa town hall are saying they have invested 100,0000 euros to ensure the correct disposal of stricken palms.

500 euros well spent.

 

[lollipop]

These little blighters can outrun the flames of a normal fire, which is why they were being incinerated. The council are also now trying to bury some in deep trenches which is another method suggested by the powers at the environmental dept. As I walked along the passageway between Ca'n Ferra and the seafront on Saturday I killed one of the beetles as it was out for a stroll.!!