Mistletoe is a very misunderstood plant. For this reason, people often chop it out of trees or even worse they remove the whole tree.
Yet mistletoe is considered an ecological keystone for biodiversity and has been eaten by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. It plays a key role in providing food, habitat, biodiversity and nutrients for the soil below. The removal of mistletoe has been shown to reduce the number of birds by one third, with the greatest impact being on the insect eaters.
To help increase understanding of this magical plant, two workshops were held with Professor Dave Watson. 32 people attended, including members of Landcare and the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists, together with employees from Council, National Parks and agri-business and interested members of the local farming community.
