ClimateAugust 23, 2026
dieback
DY-bak
Definition
A condition in trees or woody plants where the branches or shoots begin to die from the tips inward toward the trunk, typically caused by disease, infestation, or environmental stress.
Etymology
The word originated in the early 20th century as a combination of 'die' and 'back', used to describe the retreat of life from the outer tips of a plant toward its center.
In the news
In this article, dieback refers to the widespread decline and death of snow gums caused by beetle infestations, which has been exacerbated by frequent bushfires and rising temperatures. It is the primary ecological threat that citizen scientists are being recruited to monitor.
Citizen scientists join fight to save Snowy Mountains’ snow gums
Read the full article ↗About Regional