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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The report examines the reasons why voluntary measures alone are insufficient to control the sale of invasive garden plants.