Garden plants jump the fence onto farms
07 Mar 2005
A new report, Jumping the Garden Fence, commissioned by WWF-Australia, has revealed 40 per cent of the most damaging weeds to farmers and the grazing industry, have escaped from Australian gardens.
The report, written by senior CSIRO scientists, examines the impact of invasive garden plants on Australian agricultural land and natural ecosystems.
"Too many invasive garden plants remain for sale. At the moment, this is a freeway for the spread of weeds, and the environment and agriculture are the big losers," said WWF's Biodiversity Policy Manager Andreas Glanznig.
Garden plants make up 94 per cent of the 27,000 introduced plant species in Australia, and are by far the biggest source of weeds totalling 70 per cent of Australia's combined agricultural, noxious and natural ecosystem weeds. They contribute to the $4 billion annual cost of weeds to agriculture: Paterson's curse costs farmers $30m per year while Lippia costs an estimated $38m per year.
Other findings of the report show nurseries are still selling:
- 33 per cent of the emerging weeds for grazing industries;
- 20 per cent of the weeds impacting on rare or threatened native plant species;
- 25 per cent of the Weeds of National Significance; and
- 25 per cent of the invasive plants on the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species list.
"State weed laws are still too reactive and narrow in their coverage. Changes need to be made so all proposed imports of new plant species are screened and only those posing low risk to the environment and agriculture are permitted to be moved interstate. This needs to be combined with new Federal laws that encourage a consistent national approach to weed control," said Mr Glanznig.
The top 10 most serious invasive garden plants for sale:
National
Asparagus fern, Broom, Fountain Grass, Gazania, Glory lily, Hybrid mother of millions, Japanese honeysuckle, Pepper tree, Periwinkle and Sweet pittosporum.
New South Wales
Banana passion fruit, Broom, Cat's claw creeper, glory lily, holly leafed senecio, Hybrid mother of millions, Lippia, Madeira vine, Mother of millions and Yerba de hicotea.
Queensland
Coreopsis, Glory lily, Guava, Japanese honeysuckle, Mickey Mouse plant, Murraya, Parrot's feather, Pink periwinkle, Taro and Yellow allamanda.
South Australia
Aleppo pine, Desert ash, Fountain grass, Gazania, Golden wreath wattle, Kikuyu grass, Olive, Periwinkle, Topped lavender, Weeping willow.
Tasmania
Asparagus fern, Blue psoralea, Broom, Cape Leewin wattle, Himalayan honeysuckle, Holly, Looking glass bush, Radiata pine, Sweet pittosporum, tree heath.
Victoria
African lovegrass, Asparagus fern, Gazania, Horsetails, Oxalis, Pepper tree, Periwinkle, Prickly pear, Spanish heath, Mexican feather grass.
Western Australia
Arum lily, Black flag, Broadleaf pepper tree, Coastal tea tree, Freesia, Spotted gum, Sweet pittosporum, Sydney golden wattle, Watsonia and Weeping white broom.
Australian Capital Territory
Black locust, Broom (Cytisus species), Broom (Genista species), Cotoneaster, Firethorn, Japenese honeysuckle, Lombardy poplar, Olive, Radiata pine and White poplar.
Top End of the Northern Territory
African tulip, Candle bush, Clumping fishtail palm, Golden shower, Neem, Poinciana, Rubbervine, Snakeweeds, White teak and Yellow bells.
Arid Northern Territory
American cotton palm, Couch grass, Fountain grass, Himalayan raintree, Hybrid mother of millions, Lead tree (Coffee bush), Mayne's pest, Pepper tree, Umbrella sedge, White cedar.
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact:
WWF Communications Officer Virginia Dew (02) 8202 1290 or email- vdew@wwf.org.au
or Jacqueline McArthur (02) 9281 5515 Mobile 0408 626 780
