MELALEUCA PROJECT
Big Cypress Gallery Clyde and Niki Butcher Special Projects

Kill the scourge of the Everglades, buy a unique hiking stick made from the invasive Melaleuca tree! $10 from every walking stick will be donated to the Florida Exotic Pest Council. 



Warren Resen working hard on 
creating his Melaleuca Walking Sticks. 


The spread of the Austrailian Melaleuca tree (Melaleuca Quinquenervia) across the Everglades began with its introduction into South Florida early in the 20th century as a fast-growing ornamental tree, and as a tree to "drain the swamp" of the Everglades. To say that the subsequent spread of Melaleuca has been explosive is a mild description of how the tree has taken over the native habitats of South Florida.The Melaleuca not only invades areas where the soil has been disturbed, but also invades every existing ecosystem in South Florida, except for the saline zone. The tree grows in Melaleuca forests so dense that no animal can live within the boundary. They also absorb phenomenal mounts of water. Developers in the early 1900's had hoped the tree would dry up the Everglades, so the land could be put to "good" use. Because of its explosive reproductive rate, the Melaleuca could overtake most of this region's remaining natural land within 30 years.

 
Clyde uses his when he goes 
out into the swamp.

If this tree is not brought under control, the Everglades will no longer exist. There are many projects in South Florida to rid the state of this infestation. Here, in the Big Cypress National Preserve, the Preserve has begun the project of destroying Melaleuca that has infested large plots of land. They first went into the Melaleuca forests and cut them down. Because the tree absorbs so much water, the Preserve had to wait several months for the trees to dry out before they could be burned. Burns are part of the environmental process in the Everglades, so when the Melaleuca were dry, the National Preserve initiated a 'burn'. The majority of the burn did little damage to existing native plants, but now the native vegetation has been saved from encroaching Melaleuca…and part of our natural ecosystem is safe for a while longer.One man has taken on this battle to rid the state of the dreaded Melaleuca as his own personal crusade. Warren Resen makes hiking sticks from the tree. 

He feels this is a good use for the dead tree…the sticks are light weight and strong…perfect for hiking. Not only are they good for hiking, but have the added benefit of being a great conversation piece, and getting rid of another Melaleuca! Should you wish to create your own Melaleuca Walking Stick, Warren has provided me with the "recipe":Hunt down and slay the elusive Melaleuca tree, destroyer of the Florida Everglades. Finding the right height, thickness and shape might take a couple of tries. Cut a branch, sapling, or dig up the whole root system for a unique stick top. Cut to size. Trim branches and other growth. Peel bark. Trees taken from wet areas will peel easier. Scrape liquid coating from wood or it will "rust" similar to a cut up apple. Put stick away in a corner for 5-7 days to season and cure. Stick looses its water content and becomes very light and strong. When dry, sand stick to desired smoothness. Varnish. If you really want to protect the Everglades, make several for yourself and you friends.

 However, if this sounds like to much work, you can always go to an outdoor supermarket or catalog store and buy a ready to use hiking stick made from an aluminum tree for $50-$70…or buy a genuine "Warren Resen Melaleuca Walking Stick" from our gallery, and join with folks such as Vice President Al Gore, and Governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles in this "ingenious use for a noxious weed! …We will be donating $10 from every walking stick to the Florida Exotic Pest Council. The Florida Exotic Pest Council - http://www.fleppc.org - is a multi-agency organization made up of individuals with expertise in the management and control of exotic vegetation. The EPPC is aggressively striving to develop strong and practical strategies for dealing with Melaleuca encroachment in the wetland and upland forest environments of south Florida. They are also involved in helping to erradicate, other exotic spices of plants that are overtaking Florida, as well as educating the public about pest-plants. It is for this reason that Warren Resen and Big Cypress Gallery have joined together to offer Warren's Melaleuca Walking Sticks at the gallery for a cost of $40 each. Ten dollars from every walking stick will be given the Florida Exotic Pest Council to help them fulfill their task of educating the public about the invasive exotics in our state. 

The Big Cypress Melaleuca Fight
Florida Environment Radio

Big Cypress National Preserve protects about 750,000 acres of Southwest Florida. But not long ago, more than a third of it was home to the invasive plant Melaleuca. Thanks to an aggressive, eradication effort, the bulk of the preserve is maintained nearly Melaleuca free. Bill Snyder is a Big Cypress Forestry Technician...http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe20624.htm

Related Articles;

National park celebrates death of its last melaleuca tree

Mitigation funds boost melaleuca control efforts

Related Links;

Melaleuca quinquenervia
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/melainv.html

Invasive Species: Melaleuca profile
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/melaleuca.shtml

Exotics in the Everglades
http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/exotics.htm