Didgeridoos to be tagged

A new tagging and certification system has been introduced as part of a strategy to combat illegal cutting of didgeridoo stems on conservation lands.

A new tagging and certification system has been introduced as part of a strategy to combat illegal cutting of didgeridoo stems on conservation lands.

Didgeridoos are usually made from stems of mallee eucalypts. These mallee stems have been naturally hollowed through environmental factors such as termite attack to create the raw material for didgeridoos. The stems are cut from the plant, cleaned and painted to create the finished didgeridoo.

"In recent years there has been an increase in popularity of Aboriginal art and artifacts, including didgeridoos, especially by tourists," Department of Conservation and Land Management Principal Botanist Dr Ken Atkins said.

"This demand has led to the illegal cutting of mallees in remnant vegetation in areas such as nature reserves in the South West and Wheatbelt resulting in the degradation of these remaining bush areas.

"Unfortunately for these reserves and other areas of remnant bushland, many of the people seeking stems for didgeridoos are unskilled in determining suitable stems, and often extensive areas are felled to obtain a few suitable stems."

To combat this problem and protect the reserves, CALM has worked with licensed didgeridoo cutters to develop a system to help reduce the sale of stems taken unlawfully and curb the illegal harvest.

A big area of CALM's Goldfield Region has now been allocated for licensed cutters to cut eucalypts for didgeridoos and to regulate the harvest, a royalty tag has been developed.

This tag must now be attached to all eucalypt stems by the cutter when harvesting. The tag remains attached to the stem during the didgeridoo making process.

Dr Atkins said didgeridoo royalty tags would only be provided to people who held the appropriate licence issued by CALM.

"CALM has also produced a certification card which accompanies each tag stating that the didgeridoo was made of native Western Australia timbers and has been harvested by a licensed cutter," he said.

"The tag and certification card will let people know that the didgeridoo they are buying has been cut legally and that the native vegetation hasn't been degraded.

"Selling or possessing stems harvested in WA without such a tag attached will be an offence under the Wildlife Conservation Act."

For further information on didgeridoo harvesting and selling, or to report suspected illegal operators, people can contact their nearest CALM office, or the Duty Wildlife Officer at CALM in Como on 9334 0224.

Media contact: Dr Ken Atkins 9334 0425