Publications related to weeds & feral animals
Native Vegetation Regional Pilot Projects Initiative Final Report
BAPC: Balancing Agricultural Production and Conservation in Wetlands of the Gingin Shire, Western Australia
BAPC Wetlands was a field-based project which explored innovative ways to engage agricultural landholders in conserving the high-value remnant wetlands on their properties.
Community volunteers fighting a loosing battle against ecological bulldozer
The Australian Association of Bush Regenerators today launched an alarming report that highlights the loosing battle that bush regenerators are fighting against a flood of escaped garden plants that are smothering eastern Australia’s remaining natural areas.
Weed Proofing Australia: A Way forward on invasive garden plants
This paper was presented as part of seminar programme for nursery and landscape industry leaders and Australian media specialists that was convened by the Cooperative Research Centre of Australian Weed Management.
Poisonous and Invasive Plants in Australia: enabling consumers to buy safe plants
A new WWF report has found that Australian plant nurseries and gardens are home to an alarming number of plants that are poisonous to humans and animals - small children and pets are especially at risk. The report highlights that close to half of these plants are also 'weedy' or invasive, hence if they escape from gardens into the environment they are likely to become a problem for the environment and agricultural industries as well as posing an even broader risk to human and animal health and safety. The report calls for 'truth in labeling' of garden plants through the development of a national plant labeling code that parallels other retail industry codes of practice. Consumers can take action by sending a letter to the Federal Minister.
Macquarie Island in Danger
The report, prepared by University of Tasmania academics for WWF-Australia, describes the damage to Macquarie Island and its World Heritage values caused by the rabbit plague and rodents. It also includes a visual record of the poor condition of the island.
Macquarie Island factsheet
The exceptional natural beauty of Macquarie Island, 1500 kms south-east of Tasmania in the Southern Ocean, has made it one of Australia's World Heritage jewels. The island is home to a staggering array of wildlife and is considered an outstanding example of the major stages of the Earth's evolutionary history.
This factsheet provides key information about the island and the threats to its myriad species, especially invasive species such as feral cats, rats and rabbits.
Starling factsheet
Until recently, Western Australia has been free of the introduced European or common starling, however they are currently establishing on the WA South Coast. This document seeks to inform Western Australians about the threat posed by starlings, with the hope of increasing community surveillance efforts and reporting of starling sightings.
Empowering gardeners to make informed choices when buying garden plants
This briefing note outlines the benefits of a national labeling standard and scheme for garden plants for gardeners, the garden industry, and the environment; and sets out a way forward in three steps.
Weed Proofing Australia: Making the New National Weed Strategy Work
This working paper discusses the strategic risks and weaknesses that need to be addressed in the revised National Weed Strategy, and proposes a structure, objectives, targets and actions for the new Strategy.
Controlling the Sale of Invasive Garden Plants: Why Voluntary Measures Alone Fail
The report examines the reasons why voluntary measures alone are insufficient to control the sale of invasive garden plants.
The Costs and Benefits of a Proposed Mandatory Invasive Species Labelling Scheme
The report evaluates the arguments for and against a mandatory invasive species labelling scheme for ornamental plants and fish, and the issues and challenges that must be addressed for such a scheme to be fully effective.
Superb Parrot and the impacts the common Myna bird
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (ACT)
Cumberland Plain Ecological Community and the impacts of escaped garden weeds
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (NSW)
Northern Quoll and the impacts of cane toads
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (NT)
Greater Bilby and the impact of cats and foxes
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (NT)
Flatback turtles and the impacts of feral pigs
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (QLD)
Julie Creek Dunnart and the impacts of prickly acacia
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (QLD)
Hindmarsh Correa and the impacts of Willow
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (SA)
Bush Stone Curlew and the impacts of foxes
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (VIC)
Mountain Pygmy-possum and the impacts of blackberry
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (VIC)
Dibbler and the impacts of Phytophthora dieback
National Threatened Species Day 2005 Factsheet (WA)
Australian Biosecurity Group: Invasive Weeds, Pests and Diseases
The Australian Biosecurity Group's 10 point plan is a comprehensive policy solution to the growing menace posed by invasive pests, weeds and diseases.
Making State Weed Laws Work
This issues paper examines the reasons why State and Territory weed legislation is ineffective in both stopping the legal importation of new invasive plant species and blocking the major pathway for the intentional spread of those already in their jurisdictions. It then proposes a way forward to overcome these weaknesses.
Jumping the Garden Fence
The CSIRO report prepared for WWF-Australia describes the major environmental and agricultural impacts of invasive garden plants. It highlights the large number of invasive garden plants that are for sale.
National list of naturalised invasive and potentially invasive garden plants
The national list identifies 1036 naturalised garden plant species and taxa that are an actual or potential environmental and agricultural weeds.
Closing Australia's Quarantine Loophole to New Weeds
This issues paper overviews the quarantine law loophole that currently permits the legal importation of nearly half of all plant species on Earth without a weed risk assessment. It describes the risk and potential impacts associated with this loophole and proposes a way forward.
Arresting Phytophthora Dieback - the Biological Bulldozer
Phytophthora dieback (meaning plant killer), is a Key Threatening Process to Australia's biodiversity. It is forcing many species onto threatened lists as it 'bulldozers' its way through millions of hectares of native vegetation.
Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance
The report presents evidence of how poorly coordinated legislative controls on Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) enables many of these weeds to be widely distributed through the gardening industry.
Invasive plants of national importance and their legal status by state and territory
This study examines the State and Territory legal controls on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds, weeds recommended or national eradication, the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy target plant list, and Weeds of National Significance.
Front Door Wide Open to Weeds
The report demonstrates that over 125,000 plant species, including over 4,000 known weeds not yet found in Australia, can be legally imported into Australia through a major loophole in our quarantine laws
Front Door Wide Open to Weeds (summary)
Summary of the key findings of a study that shows Australia's borders are wide open to invasion by over 4,000 new weeds due to a major loophole in Australia's quarantine laws, and an outline of the WWF-Australia four point solution to fix the problem.
WWF Australia Submission to the Federal Senate Inquiry on Invasive Species
The submission identifies and analyses serious shortcomings in Australia's current national policy and legislative response to invasive weeds and pests. The lack of robust preventative measures are highlighted.
Weeds and Pests: eradicating the invasive threat
Weeds and pest animals are one of the biggest threats to Australia's rich and unique biodiversity, costing Australia's agricultural sector over $3.3 billion a year. This position paper proposes a four-point plan to fix the problem.
