QLD: Tight security on rare pines

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2000
QLD: Tight security on rare pines

Security is tight around a Queensland plant where one of the world's rarest pine trees
is being propagated.

A spokesman for Queensland's Primary Industry Minister HENRY PALASZCZUK says there
have been reports that German conifer collectors plan to steal seeds from the wollemi
pines.

About 5,000 seedlings are being grown at Gympie under an agreement between Queensland's
Department of Primary Industries and Brisbane's Birkdale Nurseries.

The only established stand of wollemi pines, believed to date back to the dinosaur
age, is at a secret location in a New South Wales national park.

The minister's spokesman says the poachers may have discovered the site in New South
Wales, but they won't be able to get through tight security at the Gympie plant.

AAP RTV geb/jmt

KEYWORD: PINES (BRISBANE)

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