SOUTH EAST WEED RISKS IDENTIFIED
The South East Weed Risk Assessment project is now complete, with the highest priority weed threats identified for both agricultural and environmental landuses.
During the 10 month project objective assessments were undertaken of over 50 different weeds across eight landuses. The project also involved valuable input from a range of stakeholders representing the landuses included in the project.
The weed risk assessment process involves answering a series of questions for each weed to determine what impacts the weed has, how quickly it can spread, feasibility to control current infestations and a comparison of current and potential distribution. The final results of the assessment compare the weeds threat level to the feasibility to control it and provides recommendations for the type of action that is appropriate for the weed. Types of recommendations include; eradication, regional control, local containment, biological control and education.
The weed risk assessment was undertaken to objectively determine the highest priority weeds for the South East. In times of limited resources, it is important to have a tool which helps us directed our efforts in the most effective way. There is no point in spending time, effort and money on controlling weeds that have little impact on the landuse. Likewise, it is also pointless to control weeds which are so widespread and difficult to control that our efforts will make no difference to the overall infestation.
This project assessed weeds at the regional scale and therefore the results do not always reflect local priorities. It is important to note that the recommendations for a weed at a regional level does not prevent the development of policies which place a higher priority on a weed at a local level.
The highest priority weeds for agricultural landuses include:
· Golden dodder
· Yellow burr weed
· Blackberry
· Silverleaf nightshade
The highest priority weeds for environmental landuses include:
· Western Cape form of bridal creeper
· Blackberry
· Bluebell creeper
· Dolichos pea
· Gorse
The normal form of bridal creeper is conspicuously absent from the highest priority list due to its widespread distribution. It scored highly in the weed threat section but its wide distribution caused a low score for feasibility of control.
The results of this project will be used by the South East NRM Board to determine the most appropriate regional policies for pest plants. The development of these policies will need careful interpretation of the risk assessment results and further consultation with the relevant stakeholders to ensure local issues are also addressed.
For more information about this project or copies of the project report, please contact Justine Drew on 8762 9114.