Theme 4: Pests & Weeds


Weeds and pest animals are a significant NRM issue within the Burdekin Dry Tropics. To date pest plants and animals have had a negative impact on a number of the Burdekin Dry Tropics regional assets and if managed incorrectly or ignored entirely will be detrimental to the environment. (Click here for more information on terrestrial and aquatic weeds or to find out how you can help combat weeds).

The BDTNRM Biodiversity Programme has a number of significant collaborative project underway to address threats from pests and weeds:

 

Great links

A-Z listing of weeds

Declared plants of Queensland

Defeating the Weed Menace Programme

Invasive Species web site - Information about Australian Government weeds policy development and implementation from the Department of the Environment and Water Resources

Weeds CRC

Weed Warriors

20 Weeds of National Significance (WONS)

 

Weeds of National Significance: Weed Management Guides

Alligator weed ( Alternanthera philoxeroides ) - 2003

Athel pine or tamarisk ( Tamarix aphylla ) - 2003

Bitou bush ( Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata ) - 2003

Boneseed ( Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera ) - 2003

Blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus aggregate ) - 2003

Bridal creeper ( Asparagus asparagoides ) - 2003

Cabomba ( Cabomba caroliniana ) - 2003

Chilean needle grass ( Nassella neesiana ) - 2003

Gorse ( Ulex europaeus ) - 2003

Hymenachne or Olive hymenachne ( Hymenachne amplexicaulis ) - 2003

Lantana ( Lantana camara ) - 2003

Mesquite ( Prosopis species ) - 2003

Mimosa ( Mimosa pigra ) - 2003

Parkinsonia ( Parkinsonia aculeata ) - 2003

Parthenium weed ( Parthenium hysterophorus ) - 2003

Pond apple ( Annona glabra ) - 2003

Prickly acacia ( Acacia nilotica ) - 2003

Rubber vine ( Cryptostegia grandiflora ) - 2003

Salvinia ( Salvinia molesta ) - 2003

Serrated tussock ( Nassella trichotoma ) - 2003

Willow ( Salix spp.) - 2003

 

Useful resources

Weeds

Facts for the horticulture media: weed information resource

National Weed Strategy prepared by the Federal Government

Students become Weed Warriors , in 'Natural Heritage - The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust' – 2004

Weed management: describing weeds for identification

Weed management: collecting and preserving plants for identification

Pests

Impact of Fox Baiting on Tiger Quoll Populations, Project ID: 00016505, Final Report

Improving the development of effective and humane trapping systems as a control method for feral goats in Australia - 2004

Interactions between feral cats, foxes, native carnivores, and rabbits in Australia - 2004

Overview of the Impact of Feral Cats on Australian Native Fauna - May 1996

Overview of the Impacts of Introduced Salmonids on Australian Native Fauna - May 1996

Review of the Project: The Development of a Cane Toad Biological Control (February 2003) - August 2003

Whats new?

Weed Pocket Guide, Agricultural and Environmental Weeds FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Pest plants booklet available online

 

The publication  A guide to the pest plants of the Desert Uplands has recently been updated and reprinted and is also available on the Desert Uplands Build-Up and Development Strategy Committee (DUBDSC) website .  The guide will assist visitors and Desert Uplands residents alike to identify pest plant species found within the region. It provides a description of the species, what problem it causes and the control measures that are available.  If you would like more information or would like to receive a hard copy of the booklet please email the Desert Uplands office.

 
Pest alert

Indian ringneck parakeet

Chilean Needle Grass National Best Practice Management Manual

Chilean needle grass is a Weed of National Signfiicance. It is now widespread and well established in parts of Victoria, NSW and the ACT and has naturalised in localised areas of South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. Chilean needle grass has not yet been reported in Western Australia or the Northern Territory. . Today, a Best practice Management Manual has been released today at the following website: http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/Chileanneedlegrass/ .

National Weed Strategy prepared by the Federal Government (revised 2007) - A national approach for weed management in Australia

Weeds Awareness in Australia

Find the newsletter here .

A Weed and plant collecting manual has been produced this year by the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, the Indigenous Land Corporation, and the Weeds CRC to promote weed awareness in Aboriginal communities of Northern Australia.

Replacement plant lists for weeds

A factsheet on Alternatives to bird-dispersed weeds in north-east NSW and south-east Qld, and another on Alternatives to bird-dispersed weeds for Weeds of National Significance are provided here to assist gardeners and land managers on how fleshy-fruited weeds can be replaced by fleshy-fruited native plants as a food source for birds. A more comprehensive guide is provided to assist with choosing native replacements for weeds to support fruit-eating birds.

Impact of climate change

All invasive plants can be expected to demonstrate a southward range shift, according to a Weeds CRC produced Briefing Note on 'Invasive plants and climate change' .

Weedbusters

What is Weedbusters ? Weedbusters is an awareness program that works with the community to achieve sustainable land and water management, primarily through increased public involvement in weed management, education and awareness projects.

The theme for Weedbuster 2007 is "Grow me instead" and is an exciting opportunity to raise community awareness and action towards weeds. Register your activity at www.weedbusters.info/ and get a free T-shirt for your efforts.

Weedbuster Activities and Education Resources

 

Education Kits for Schools " Weedbusters - Activities, Information and Curriculum Links ", a refreshing approach to weed education, suitable for classroom and outdoor focus. This publication is an attempt to bring the weeds message to an extremely important group of people - students, the land and water managers of the very near future. This Weedbusters book provides diverse activities and information that will encourage students to explore weeds from a number of perspectives - beginning with their own. Activities offer many learning outcomes, particularly in Science and SOSE at curriculum levels 3,4 and 5.

Weed Warriors

Weed Warriers has been moved from the Department of Natural Resources and Water to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Invasive Plants and Animals, Biosecurity Queensland. Note that some email addresses have changed as a result of the move. New resources are currently being printed. For more information on the program, go to: www.weedwarriors.net.au/about.html

The Weeds CRC has compiled an image gallery of some of the worst infestations in Australia. This “visual lesson” explains why weeds cost Australia $4 billion per year.

WEEDeck cards online Weeds Australia has just launched an interactive version of its WEEDeck cards. Click your area on interest on the map, and major weeds of the area are listed, complete with photos.

Weeds and the nursery industry . The way we deal with invasive plants (or ‘weeds’) in Australia is becoming increasingly important. The nursery industry plays an active role in this battle, particularly in addressing the distribution, planting and control of species that may be damaging to the environment and agriculture. What does your nursery business need to know about invasive garden plants? What can you do and where do you go for more information? See this Nursery Paper .

Weed of the month:

Lantana ( Lantana camara )

Development of the National Lantana Strategy for biodiversity conservation NEW

Please find here the inaugural issue of the DPI&F's Lantana Lowdown . If you would like to be added to the mailing list for future editions of Lantana Lowdown, please send your name and contact details (email and mail addresses) to clare.raven@dpi.qld.gov.au