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THREAT ABATEMENT ADVICE FOR THE KEY THREATENING PROCESS

‘LOSS AND DEGRADATION OF NATIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL HABITAT BY INVASION

OF ESCAPED GARDEN PLANTS, INCLUDING AQUATIC PLANTS’

This threat abatement advice has been developed based on the best available information

at the time of development (July 2014).

To provide information updates please email: weeds@environment.gov.au

Purpose

The purpose of this threat abatement advice is to identify key actions and research to abate

the key threatening process listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act 1999 (Cth.) (EPBC Act), ‘Loss and degradation of native plant and animal

habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants’. Abatement of this

process can help ensure the conservation of assets including listed species and ecological

communities.

This advice provides information and guidance for stakeholders at national, state, regional

and local levels. It intends to increase awareness of activities relevant to abating the threats

of this key threatening process. It suggests on-ground activities that can be implemented by

local communities, natural resource management groups or interested individuals, such as

landholders. It also suggests actions that can be undertaken by government agencies, local

councils, research organisations, industry bodies or non-government organisations.

The intention of this advice is to highlight those actions considered to be of highest priority

and which are feasible, rather than to comprehensively list all actions which may abate the

threat and impacts posed by the key threatening process. Relevant groups or individuals may

determine their capacity to undertake the abatement activities included in this advice.

Objectives for better management of the threat include to:

1. prevent further introductions of potentially invasive plants

2. develop understanding of the extent and impact of infestation by escaped garden plants

3. identify and prioritise key assets and areas for strategic management

4. reduce the establishment and spread of garden plants into areas with key ecological

assets

5. support and facilitate coordinated on-ground management in high-priority areas

6. raise awareness among stakeholders of the impacts of escaped garden plants

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7. build capacity among stakeholders to abate the threat

8. monitor, evaluate and report on the efficacy of management programmes.

Description of the key threatening process

The key threatening process addressed by this threat abatement advice covers all escaped

garden plants (defined as plants currently or historically used in gardens for ornament or

utility that have invaded, or threaten to invade, natural and other areas).

Historically, escaped garden plants have been the main source of Australia’s population of

weeds. Garden plants may spread from the confines of a garden and enter native bushland

via natural dispersal vectors such as wind, water, and animals. Introduction and spread of

garden plants can also occur through inappropriate sale and plantings, dumping of waste

from gardens, ponds and aquariums (including the deliberate wild cultivation of invasive

aquatic species for the aquarium trade) and accidental spread, for example, by the use of

machinery along roadsides.

Escaped garden plants can have a number of adverse impacts on native species and

communities through: competing for resources; preventing recruitment; altering various

ecosystem processes such as geomorphological processes, hydrological cycles and nutrient

dynamics; preventing animal movements or replacing habitat used by native animals; and

altering disturbance regimes such as fire.

An increasing number of environmental weeds are Australian plants that have been used in

both horticulture and land rehabilitation projects outside of their native range. These can be

just as invasive as introduced species. In addition, they have the capacity to interbreed with

indigenous species, and so change the nature of the local gene pool. Like introduced

species, they may also display a recruitment advantage over some indigenous species after

a fire event, thereby further changing the structure and function of already challenged

ecosystems.

The threats posed by escaped garden plants may add an additional component to a suite of

threats already applying considerable pressure to some species and ecological communities.

Land clearing, ecosystem fragmentation, climate change and altered fire regimes are just a

few of the threats that have considerable impacts on species, biodiversity and environmental

function and resilience. Protecting species and ecological communities will require strategies

to address many of these threats holistically, not just those caused by escaped garden

plants.

For further information on the key threatening process, see the advice to the Minister for the

Environment and Heritage from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on

amendments to the list of key threatening processes under the Environment Protection and

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat

by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants.

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Listing Status

Commonwealth legislation

‘Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden

plants, including aquatic plants’ is listed as a key threatening process under the Environment

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth.) (EPBC Act).

This process meets section 188(4)(a), section 188(4)(b) and section 188(4)(c) of the EPBC

Act and is eligible to be listed as a key threatening process because:

it could cause Troides richmondia (Richmond birdwing butterfly) to become eligible for

listing as threatened under the EPBC Act

it could cause the Cumberland Plain Woodlands ecological community to become eligible

for listing as critically endangered under the EPBC Act

it is adversely affecting population numbers and geographic distribution of at least three

listed threatened species (Pimelea spicata (spiked rice-flower), Pterostylis arenicola

(sandhill greenhood orchid) and Lasiopetalum pterocarpum (wing-fruited Lasiopetalum))

and two listed threatened ecological communities (the Blue Gum High Forest of the

Sydney Basin Bioregion and the Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern

Australia), primarily through competition and habitat degradation.

State and territory legislation

Victoria

The following are listed as potentially threatening processes under the Victorian Flora and

Fauna Guarantee Act 1988:

Invasion of native vegetation by Blackberry Rubus fruticosus L. agg.

Invasion of native vegetation by ‘environmental weeds’

Introduction and spread of Spartina to Victorian estuarine environments

Spread of Pittosporum undulatum in areas outside its natural distribution

New South Wales

The following are listed as key threatening processes under the NSW Threatened Species

Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act):

Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden

plants, including aquatic plants (2011). This listing was supported by previous listings,

including:

Invasion and establishment of exotic vines and scramblers

Invasion and establishment of Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

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Invasion of native plant communities by bitou bush & boneseed

Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses

Invasion of native plant communities by African Olive Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata

(Wall. ex G. Don) Cif.

Invasion, establishment and spread of Lantana (Lantana camara L. sens. lat)

Existing plans and initiatives that are relevant to the process

A number of national and state/territory-based policies, strategies and plans provide

information relevant to the key threatening process. See the Information Sources table for

other relevant documents.

Many weeds that originated as garden plants are also declared as noxious or prohibited

under various state and territory legislation.

National plans and initiatives

The Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (formerly the Australian Weeds Committee and

the Vertebrate Pest Committee) is developing a revised Australian Weeds Strategy. The draft

2014 Australian Weeds Strategy builds on the last two decades of national-level

achievements (under previous national weeds strategies) and outlines the principles that

underpin weed management in Australia. It maps out four key areas of weed management

(prevention, eradication, containment and asset protection) and sets the national vision,

goals and priorities that will protect our natural resources from long-term damage by weeds.

This revised strategy emphasises that the effective management of weeds demands a

collaborative approach between landholders, community groups, industries and all levels of

government. The draft strategy will be available for public consultation late in 2014. In the

meantime, please refer to the 2007 Australian Weeds Strategy.

Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 (Natural Resource

Management Ministerial Council 2010) is a guiding framework to help Australians protect and

manage terrestrial, freshwater aquatic and marine biodiversity over the coming decades. The

strategy provides a national policy umbrella for more specific policies including those relating

to wetlands.

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework (2012) is a national framework to guide the

ecologically sustainable management of Australia’s native vegetation. The framework guides

the way to an Australian landscape that maintains and promotes healthy, diverse and

connected native vegetation communities, while providing environmental, social and

economic benefits for all Australians.

Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (formerly the Australian Weeds Committee) is a

sectoral committee of the National Biosecurity Committee. The committee comprises

members from the Australian Government, all state and territory jurisdiction as well as

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observers from the CSIRO, Plant Health Australia, and New Zealand. The committee is the

custodian of the Australian Weeds Strategy. It facilitates and coordinates consistent national

action on weeds and reports on progress to the National Biosecurity Committee.

The 4th edition of Australian Standards AS4454 ‘Composts, soil conditioners and

mulches’ was released on 20 February 2012. This standard requires the composting

process to be systematically controlled to manage known risks and to manufacture products

that are safe and beneficial for use. The goal is to facilitate the safe and beneficial recycling

and use of biodegradable organic materials with minimal risk of adverse impact to

environment and public health.

The National Post-Border Weed Risk Management Protocol (Standards Australia

Handbook HB 294:2006) was developed to foster the use and further development of

decision support systems for prioritising weed species for management at the regional,

state/territory and national levels.

Industry plans and initiatives

Nursery and Garden Industry Australia – policy positions

Invasive Plants Policy Position

Environmental Sustainability Position

Policy Position on Quarantine and Biosecurity

Nursery and Garden Industry Australia – other key initiatives

Grow Me Instead is a programme to educate horticulturalists and gardeners to recognise

and remove plants of concern and to replace them with suitable non-invasive alternatives.

National Plant Labelling Guidelines 2013 have been developed to reduce confusion

and provide clear guidance in relation to the content of labels used on plants, and how

plant information is conveyed to the market.

The Invasive Plant Risk Assessment Tool assists consumers to identify and manage

risks associated with the cultivation of ornamental plants. This tool contains information

on the potential invasiveness of over 1,000 plants grown and sold throughout Australia.

The Nursery Production Farm Management System is a third party industry-owned risk

management accreditation programme enabling production nurseries to manage risks

associated with invasive plants.

State and territory plans and initiatives

State and territory noxious/prohibited weeds lists

State and territory nature conservation and environment protection legislation

New South Wales

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The NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013–2021 sets the overall direction for the

management of animal and plant pests, diseases and weeds in NSW terrestrial and

aquatic environments. Its objectives are to manage pest, disease and weed risks by:

preventing their entry into NSW; quickly finding, containing and eradicating any new

entries; and effectively minimising the impacts of those pests, diseases and weeds that

cannot be eradicated. A new Biosecurity Act is proposed that will introduce a ‘general

biosecurity obligation’, requiring people to take all practical measures to prevent, eliminate

or minimise biosecurity threats.

Review of weed management in NSW. The NSW government asked the NSW Natural

Resources Commission to undertake an independent evaluation of the effectiveness and

efficiency of weed management arrangements in NSW, given the significant impacts on

the NSW economy and environment.

The NSW Government response: Review of weed management in NSW. The Natural

Resources Commission review provided eight key recommendations to the NSW

Government for consideration. The NSW Government will oversee the implementation of

significant changes in response to the review.

Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds–State-wide framework is a non-

statutory threat abatement strategy. Together with the Weeds of National Significance

Strategic Plans and the Saving our Species initiative, this framework provides actions

to address this KTP in NSW. The Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds is based

on two weed threat abatement strategies; the national Plan to Protect Environmental

Assets from Lantana and NSW Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan, which were

developed to address their individual KTP listings under the TSC Act.

Noxious and environmental weed control handbook: a guide to weed control in

non-crop, aquatic and bushland situations for NSW and the WoNS Management

Manuals provide management options for weeds in NSW.

South Australia

Weed Control handbook for Declared Plants in South Australia (South Australian

Government 2013) provides information on how to control South Australia’s declared

plants.

Biosecurity South Australia is responsible for development and review of policy in relation

to declared plants. The Biosecurity South Australia website includes information on

prevention, control techniques, weed identification notes and distribution maps.

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Weed Management handbook (Northern Territory Government

2012) provides information on strategic and planned approaches to weed management,

including integrated weed control methods.

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The Northern Territory Weed Advisory Committee has been established for

stakeholder consultation and to advise the minister on a range of weed matters which

have an impact, or potential impact, on land throughout the Territory. The Committee

consists of industry and stakeholder representatives with appropriate expertise and

territory-wide interests such as the Department of Defence, Parks Australia, NT

Cattlemen’s Association, Local Government, Indigenous, horticulture, nursery, agricultural

and environmental sectors. This Committee has been tasked with fostering acceptance of

weed management plans and promoting integrated best practice weed control throughout

industry and the wider community.

Victoria

The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) is drafting the new

Invasive Species Management Bill to replace the noxious weeds and pest animal

provisions of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and close the gaps in powers

to deal with incursions of taxonomic groups currently not, or only partially, covered by

Victoria's biosecurity legislation.

DEPI is also drafting policy to provide a better understanding of the most effective

interventions to abate invasion by garden plants as a threat to biodiversity values in

Victoria.

Western Australia

Weed Management Policy to provide direction and guidance for the management of

weeds on lands and waters managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Weed Prioritisation Process for Parks and Wildlife provides a framework for

identifying priorities for improving the efficiency of weed management on Department of

Parks and Wildlife managed lands.

Tasmania

WeedPlan – Tasmania’s Weed Management Strategy 2nd Edition 2005 provides a

framework for positive action that identifies specific needs and opportunities for improving

the efficiency and sustainability of weed management in Tasmania.

The Weeds Index is a Tasmanian Government website resource for the identification of

weeds declared under the Weed Management Act 1999 and non-declared weeds that

impact on agriculture and the environment. This resource includes images for

identification, control guides, information sheets and management plans.

Environmental Weeds is a Tasmanian Government website resource providing

information on weeds that invade bushland and threaten the ecology. It contains

information on prevention, control techniques and regional coordinator contacts.

Queensland

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Queensland Weeds Strategy (currently under review) establishes a state-wide planning

framework, providing clear direction to government, community, industry and individuals

for the management of weeds across the state.

Queensland Weed Spread Prevention Strategy is an action plan to minimise or prevent

the spread of weeds.

Preventing weed spread is a Queensland Government website resource promoting and

informing on weed spread prevention.

Website for the Weedbuster Awareness Program promotes awareness and

understanding about weeds and their impacts. Its aims include helping the public make

the connection between how their gardening and agricultural practices can lead to land

and environmental degradation.

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory Weeds Strategy 2009-2019 aims to reduce the impact of

weeds on the economy, human health and amenity. It recognises that weed management

is an integral component of sustainable management of natural resources and the

environment, and that weed management requires an integrated, whole of community

and government approach.

Are Your Garden Plants Going Bush? brochure provides information on the threat of garden escapes, species of concern in the ACT region, control methods and alternative plants.

Nature Conservation Strategy 2013-23 aims to guide future planning of the ACT’s open spaces, rural areas, urban areas, riverine corridors, and nature reserves. It also aims to guide investment of funding and resources in nature conservation. The Strategy proposes a number of actions designed to support the ACT’s diverse volunteer base to help manage the ACT’s natural areas.

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Threat Abatement Actions

The purpose of this threat abatement advice is to provide information and guidance to

address the key threatening process, that is, to reduce the loss and degradation of native

plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants.

Actions that are necessary in the short term are classified as ‘priority actions’. For the most

effective use of resources, it is necessary to identify the important ecosystems, habitats and

species that need protecting. For the purposes of the Australian Government, these are the

biodiversity assets listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

1999 (EPBC Act). There may also be state/territory, regional and/or local biodiversity assets

that should be identified to help prioritise management activities.

It is necessary to implement coordinated, cost effective on-ground management strategies in

areas containing high-priority biodiversity assets. Supporting and facilitating coordinated

management strategies through the design of tools, systems and guidelines is essential for

successful on-ground management to address the threat. On-ground management should

include habitat restoration, monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of management

programmes where resources allow.

Improving our understanding of the extent, spread pathways and impacts of the threat is also

important to managing the threat. Raising awareness of the impacts of escaped garden

plants among stakeholders and building stakeholder capability to implement solutions will

improve the likelihood of successful abatement of the threat.

Some actions that have been identified as being the highest priority are listed below.

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General/ overarching actions.

Implement the 2014 Australian Weeds Strategy. National

Implement actions from relevant Weeds of National Significance strategic plans. National

Implement priority actions in state and territory strategies. Regional

1. Prevent further introductions of potentially invasive plants

Encourage, via the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee, state and territory declarations for plant

species identified as requiring regulation.

National

Seek national restriction of the sale, movement and propagation of cultivated plants identified as

threatening and potentially threatening invasive species.

National

Promote existing guidelines to gain acceptance and broader implementation of a consistent national

labelling and plant identification system (wholesale and retail) that clearly indicates the species name,

parentage or horticultural lineage of any plant being propagated, promoted and sold within Australia.

National

Investigate ways to increase the efficacy of screening seeds that arrive in international post. National

Investigate more effective systems for tracing online sales of declared weeds. National

Investigate harmonisation of legislation for prohibiting/allowing certain species across jurisdictions and for

monitoring and surveillance of inter-/intra-jurisdictional invasion pathways and management of outbreaks.

National

2. Develop understanding of the extent and impact of infestation by escaped garden plants.

Prioritise escaped garden plant species that warrant concentrated effort to control. Publicise these

prioritised species and encourage action.

National

Identify species for which assessment of invasiveness is needed. These will include plants that have

become established in natural areas but have not yet become invasive.

National

Improve education and guidance for particular groups (e.g. nurseries, gardeners, community groups and National

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the general public) regarding this threatening process.

Increase the awareness of land managers of threatened biodiversity assets on the land they manage.

Where assets are impacted, or potentially impacted by escaped garden plants, encourage the

preparation and implementation of a management plan for the threat and for the recovery of the asset.

Local

Increase awareness about the conservation of threatened species in an urban/peri-urban setting to bring

about changes in social behaviour. These changes relate to the recognition of the value of remnant

vegetation and responsibility for habitat management. Personal and regular contact with landholders and

community groups is a key strategy in encouraging awareness and involvement in the recovery effort.

Local

3. Identify and prioritise key assets and areas for strategic management.

Prioritise geographic areas requiring protection, based on the presence of listed ecological assets and the

current level of threat from escaped garden plants in combination with other threats.

National

4. Reduce the establishment and spread of garden plants into areas with key ecological assets.

Improve networks with active field botanists and those most likely to detect emerging weed species to

enhance surveillance and monitoring capacity and to reduce lag time between detection and

management responses.

National

Focus on actions to prevent existing weeds being introduced to new areas, or new genetic material being

introduced, that would increase the invasive potential of existing threats.

National

Implement state, territory and regional priorities related to invasive species or to recovery of threatened

species and ecological communities where the impacts of escaped garden plants pose a threat.

Regional

Promote weed spread prevention actions at a local level. Local

Build on ‘Grow Me Instead’ and other initiatives to engage gardeners as friends of the environment and

enlist their support and commitment to reduce the spread of invasive plants.

Local

Encourage gardeners to buy low-risk garden plants.

Local

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5. Support and facilitate coordinated on-ground management in high-priority areas.

Implement relevant species-specific actions in national recovery plans. National

Implement relevant actions in conservation advices for ecological communities listed under the

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

National

Conduct ex-situ protection of vulnerable species (seed collection and preservation): National Seed Bank

and the Australian Seed Bank Partnership.

National

Conduct in-situ protection of threatened species through conservation agreements, bush regeneration

and, weed control activities (integrated approach).

National

Prevent the establishment of escaped garden plants in remnant native vegetation through improved

management.

National

Support community groups and other organisations that are effectively controlling garden escape weeds.

Organise community members and groups to search for, document and manage existing and new

infestations of escaped invasive garden plants.

Local

6. Raise awareness of the impacts of escaped garden plants.

Work with relevant industries to increase their willingness to improve public awareness of the issues

related to escaped garden plants. The nursery, horticulture, landscape and aquarium industries regularly

interact with people making decisions about their garden.

National

Build industry understanding about the risks and costs associated with invasive garden plants, and

collaboratively define their capacity for positive action.

National

Provide industry and community groups with relevant material and encourage their advocacy of the issue. National

Develop relevant material for school education programmes. Regional

Develop a multi-stakeholder, cooperative approach to creating environmental weeds ‘advice’ lists for

awareness and management actions at the regional and local levels.

Regional

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Strengthen educational focus on gardeners, particularly those living close to areas of native vegetation,

who may be unaware that they harbour high-risk invasive species in their gardens.

Local

7. Build capacity among stakeholders to abate the threat.

Work collaboratively with nursery and aquarium industries to expand and support positive actions being

undertaken to address the invasive species challenge.

National

Review, maintain and improve the national weed risk assessment system being used by the Nursery and

Garden Industry Australia. Seek Australia-wide industry adoption for this.

National

Develop an agreed science-based set of lists for use at national and state levels to support effective and

coordinated management and policy decisions.

National

Support the aquarium and nursery industries to pursue voluntary species withdrawals and ‘Grow Me

Instead’ options.

National

Champion a retail accreditation programme (such as the Australian Garden Centre Accreditation

Scheme).

National

Investigate developing an Australian Pest Plant Accord based on the National Categorisation System for

Invasive Species to enable the removal from sale of identified invasive garden plants. This may be

something similar to the National Pest Plant Accord which is operating in New Zealand and seeks to

address the distribution of weed species via the nursery trade in New Zealand. Undertake and/or

continue extensive consultation with relevant industry groups such as nursery and amenity horticulture

associations as well as government agencies that have regulatory and enforcement responsibilities

relevant to abating this threat.

National

Support community groups and other stakeholders that are effectively controlling garden escape weeds. Regional

Ensure threat abatement methods and weed control operations do not themselves threaten native

vegetation, listed species or ecological communities affected by garden escapees. This can easily occur

if non-selective, agricultural control techniques are employed, such as broad acre spraying of weed

infestations in native vegetation.

Local

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8. Monitor, evaluate and report on the efficacy of management programmes.

Encourage monitoring and reporting at all levels to help with understanding the efficacy of programmes

and to share success and areas for improvement.

National/Regional/Local

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Research Priorities

Research priorities that would inform future actions include:

Evaluate the extent and risk from continued trade and use of invasive native species

outside their natural range.

Increase understanding of the implications of climate change for invasive garden plants.

Conduct informed and impartial scientific screening of existing garden plants for escape

and weediness potential.

Increase understanding of the risks of escaped native garden plants in relation to

increased fire promotion and increased recruitment following fire, and the impacts of

these processes on threatened species and ecological communities.

Increase understanding of the risks of escaped native garden plants in relation to the

impacts of these plants on unique local flora and fauna and ecosystem assemblages.

Confirm the presence of escaped garden plants in isolated locations and assess the

feasibility of containment/eradication.

Investigate the biological traits of escaped garden plants to identify or improve the

efficacy of control actions.

Develop an agreed national methodology to determine sterility testing procedures to

determine low environmental impact varieties (defined as less than 10% female fertility).

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Information Sources

Links to state and territory plans, fact sheets, interest groups and other information sources:

Author or interest

group

Year Title or description Publisher and/or link

Australian Institute

of Horticulture

Code of Ethics for professional

horticulturists

http://aih.org.au/

Australian

Government

Threatened species and

ecological communities–

publications.

Webpage: Tips for gardeners.

Australian Government Department of the Environment.

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/biodiversity/threatened-species-

ecological-communities/threatened-species-and-ecological

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/help/garde

ners.html

Australian

Government

Species Profile and Threats

(SPRAT) Database

(Recovery plans adopted under

the EPBC Act)

Australian Government Department of the Environment.

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl

Invasive Plants

and Animals

Committee

32 Weeds of National

Significance Strategic Plans

2012–2017

http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/

Blood K 2001 Environmental Weeds in the

Goulburn Broken Catchment, In:

Revegetation Guide for the

Goulburn Broken Catchment (eds

G Earl, F Stelling, M Titcumb and

Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Victoria.

http://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/revegetation/chapters/pdf/ch4.PDF

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S Berwick).

Bushland Friendly

Nursery Scheme

An initiative of the NSW North

Coast Weeds Advisory

Committee; seventeen councils

from Tweed to Taree agreed to

exclude the use of environmental

weeds in new developments and

their own landscaping. They also

promoted participating nurseries

who encouraged the public to

plant local native alternatives and

help stop the spread of

destructive weeds.

http://www.northcoastweeds.org.au/projects/bushland-friendly-nursery-scheme/

Council for

Australasian Weed

Societies (CAWS)

An independent body that can

express national and regional

views on all issues relating to

weeds and their management.

CAWS comprises delegates from

Australian state weed societies

and the Plant Protection Society

of New Zealand.

http://www.caws.org.au/

Environmental

Weeds Action

Network (WA)

Bushland Weeds- manual (K

Brown and K Brooks)

http://www.environmentalweedsactionnetwork.org.au/operation.html

http://www.environmentalweedsactionnetwork.org.au/images/pdf/bushl

andweedsbook.pdf

Gardening

Australia

2003 Fact Sheet: Richmond Birdwing

Butterfly

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s938771.htm

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Nature

Conservation

Society of South

Australia

2005 Stop Bushland Weeds: A Guide

to Successful Weeding In South

Australia's Bushland

(Meg Robertson) 2nd edition

http://www.ncssa.asn.au/books/featured-titles/sbw

Northern Territory

Government,

Greening Australia

Northern Territory,

Nursery and

Garden Industry of

the Northern

Territory,

Weedbusters

Garden Thug brochure Information on steps to stop plants spreading and native plant alternatives.

http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/13195/TopEndGa

rdenThug.pdf

No Space 4

Weeds

A NSW state-wide weed awareness programme that highlights that weeds are everyone’s problem and provides opportunities for the community of NSW to become part of the solution. The messages emphasise appropriate disposal of garden and aquarium waste.

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/no-space

NSW Government Websites:

Key threatening processes

Recovery plans

Threat abatement plans:

Office of Environment and Heritage:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/threats.asp

x.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/RecoveryPlans.

htm

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Search for conservation advices

and recovery plans by NRM

region

Declared plants, weed control

handbooks and state

management plans

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/ThreatAbateme

ntPlans.htm

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-

bin/sprat/public/conservationadvice.pl

Department of Primary Industries:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-

weeds/weeds/legislation/state/orange-hawkweed-strategy

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-

weeds/weeds/noxweed/noxious-app-application

NSW Government 2011 Biodiversity priorities for

widespread weeds. Report

prepared for the 13 Catchment

Management Authorities (CMAs)

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Office of Environment & Heritage, Orange. Available on the internet at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/publications/cmas

NSW Government

Review of weed management in

NSW. Final report

NSW Government Response

NSW Natural Resources Commission

http://www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/Workwedo/ReviewofweedmanagementinNSW.aspx

NSW department of Primary Industries

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/nsw-government-response-to-nrc-weeds-review

Nursery and Webpage with links to national http://www.ngia.com.au

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Garden Industry

Australia

initiatives

Peel B 2010 Rainforest Restoration Manual for

South-Eastern Australia

CSIRO Publishing. http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/5268.htm

Petroeschevsky A 2007 Reducing the water weed risk:

how government and industry can

contribute to a safer trade

Nursery Papers, Technical, Issue 6, Nursery and Garden Industry

Australia, Epping, NSW

http://www.ngia.com.au/files/nurserypapers/NP_2007_06.pdf

Queensland

Government

Webpages: Threatened species

Non-native plants and weeds

http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species/index.html.:

http://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/plants-weeds/

Randall RP 2001 Garden Thugs, a national list of

invasive and potential invasive

garden plants

Plant Protection Quarterly, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 138-171

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/235912778_Garden_thugs_a_

national_list_of_invasive_and_potentially_invasive_garden_plants

Randall RP 2007 The introduced flora of Australia

and its weed status

CRC for Australian Weed Management, Adelaide.

http://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/52372/2007.-The-

introduced-flora-of-Australia-and-its-weed-status.pdf

South Australia

Government

Natural Resources

South Australia

Webpages: Threatened species

and ecological communities

Declared plants, weed control

handbooks and state

management plans

Specific regional information on pest plant species including factsheets for: Adelaide Mount Lofty

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-

resources/Plants_Animals/Threatened_species_ecological_communitie

s

http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecuritysa/nrm_biosecurity/weeds

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au

21

Natural Resources

South East

Alinytjara-Wilurara Eyre Peninsula Kangaroo Island Northern & Yorke South Australian Arid Lands South Australian Murray Darling

Basin

Specific regional information on

pest plant species including

factsheets

http://www.senrm.sa.gov.au/Pests/PestPlantsweeds/PestPlantsweeds.

aspx

http://www.senrm.sa.gov.au/Pests/PestPlantsweeds/Pestplantweedsfa

ctsheets.aspx

Sustainable

Gardening

Australia

A not-for-profit, non-government,

volunteer-driven organisation

dedicated to changing the way

Australians garden. Emphasises

protecting and nurturing the

natural environment

http://www.sgaonline.org.au/

Sydney Weeds

Committee

Garden Escapes & Other Weeds

in Bushland and Reserves. A

responsible gardening guide for

the Sydney region (reprinted

2012)

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/web/groups/publicwebcontent/docume

nts/document/zgrf/mdux/~edisp/dd_051317.pdf

Threatened Plant

Action Group

Community group with local

expertise/knowledge of garden

http://www.ncssa.asn.au/programs/threatened-plant-action-group

22

(South Australia) escape plants threatening listed

species, ecological communities

and remnant native vegetation

Threatened

Species Scientific

Committee

Loss and degradation of native

plant and animal habitat by

invasion of escaped garden

plants, including aquatic plants –

Advice to the Minister for the

Environment and Heritage on

Amendments to the List of Key

Threatening Processes under the

Environment Protection and

Biodiversity Conservation Act

1999

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/14585

Urban Bushland

Council WA Inc.

Website for this peak community

organisation for urban bushland

recognition and protection. A

voluntary non-government

organisation

http://www.bushlandperth.org.au/about/about-ubc

Weedbusters

(Qld.)

One aim of this initiative is to help

the public make the connection

between how their gardening and

agricultural practices can lead to

land and environmental

degradation

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-

ants/weeds/weedbusters

Weed societies State and territory weed societies aim to promote a wider interest in

http://www.caws.org.au/members.php

23

weed management and to exchange information and ideas based on research, experience and practice

Weed Spotters A weed detection and alert with networks operational in

Queensland and Victoria

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-

animals/plants/herbarium/weed-spotters/

http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/pests-diseases-and-

weeds/weeds/weed-spotters

WWF-Australia Archived reports on garden escapees

http://www.wwf.org.au/news_resources/archives/garden_escapees/

24

Research documents

Adair RJ and Groves RH 1998, Impact of environmental weeds on biodiversity: a

review and development of a methodology, Environment Australia, Canberra.

Available on the Internet at:

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/publications/books/pubs/bi

oimpact.pdf

Beeton RJS, Buckley KI, Jones GJ, Morgan D, Reichelt RE and Trewin D 2006,

Australia State of the Environment 2006, Independent report to the Australian

Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Department of the

Environment and Heritage, Canberra. Available on the Internet at

http://www.environment.gov.au/science/soe/2006-report/contents

Brooks ML, D’Antonio CM, Richardson DM, Grace JB, Keeley JE, Ditomaso JM,

Hobbs RJ, Pellant M and Pyke D 2004, ‘Effects of Invasive Alien Plants on Fire

Regimes’, BioScience, vol. 54, no. 7, pp. 677–688. Available on the Internet at:

http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/4634/

Brunskill S 2002, ‘Environmental Weeds’, in Native Vegetation Guide for the Riverina–

Vegetation Management Review Articles (eds K Kent, G Earl, B Mullins, I Lunt and

R Webster), Charles Sturt University. Available on the Internet at:

http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/science/herbarium/riverina/

Burgman MA and Lindenmayer DB 1998, Conservation Biology for the Australian

Environment, Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Limited, Chipping Norton.

Coutts-Smith AJ and Downey PO 2006, Impact of weeds on threatened biodiversity in

New South Wales, Technical Series no. 11. CRC for Australian Weed Management,

Adelaide. Available on the Internet at: http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/64168/20080620-

0000/www.weeds.crc.org.au/documents/tech_series_11.pdf

Csurhes S and Edwards R 1998, National Weeds Program: Potential Environmental

Weeds in Australia: Candidate Species for Preventative Control, Environment

Australia Biodiversity Group, Canberra. Available on the Internet at:

http://cutlass.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/publications/books/pubs/potential

.pdf

Cuneo P and Leishman MR 2006, African Olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) as

an environmental weed in eastern Australia: a review, Cunninghamia, vol.9, no.4, pp.

545–577. Available on the Internet at:

http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/81638/Cun94Cun545sm.pd

f

Glanznig A, McLachlan K and Kessal O 2004, Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants

of National Importance: an overview of their legal status, commercial availability and

25

risk status. WWF-Australia. Sydney. Available on the Internet at:

http://www.wwf.org.au/news_resources/archives/garden_escapees/

Glanznig A 2006, ‘Weed proofing Australia: a way forward on invasive garden plants’

in: Proceedings of Weeds in the Media 2006, CRC for Australian Weed Management,

Adelaide. Available on the Internet at: http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/64168/20080620-

0000/www.weeds.crc.org.au/documents/weeds_in_the_media_proceedings.pdf

Groves RH, Boden R and Lonsdale WM 2005, Jumping the Garden Fence: Invasive

Garden Plants in Australia and their environmental and agricultural impacts. CSIRO

report prepared for WWF-Australia, WWF-Australia, Sydney. Available on the Internet

at: http://www.wwf.org.au/news_resources/archives/garden_escapees/

Humphries SE, Groves RH and Mitchell DS 1991, Plant invasions of Australian

ecosystems: A status review and management directions, Australian National Parks

and Wildlife Service, Canberra.

Virtue JG and Melland RL, 2003, The Environmental Weed Risk of Revegetation and Forestry Plants, Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia.