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Northern Rivers CMA Region

Determining biodiverstiy priorities for the management of widespread weeds in Northern Rivers CMA Region

OEH and NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) worked together with the 13 CMAs to develop regional biodiversity priorities for the management of widespread weeds. This page is for the Northern Rivers (NR) CMA region component of the project. The report for the NRCMA Region (Part J) can be accessed via the DPI weed page. Find out more about this state-wide project.

Within each CMA Region the approach involves three stages:

1. Identify priority widespread weeds and biodiversity at risk
2. Identify sites for the control of priority widespread weeds
3. Undertake control and monitoring at high priority sites

Stage 1. Identify priority widespread weeds and biodiversity at risk

The Northern Rivers Invasive Plants Action Strategy (NRIPAS) completed in 2008 identified priority weeds within seven landscape types in the NRCMA.  This project will target weeds in categories D, E and F of the NRIPAS (as the priority widespread weeds) and the biodiversity (native species and communities) which they impact upon in the region. Whilst the NRIPAS does not identify the specific biodiversity at risk from weeds in the catchment, information from site nominations (see Stage 2) was used to collate a list of individual native species and communities under threat from priority widespread weeds.

• View the list of high priority widespread weeds (.pdf 22kb) in the NRCMA region
• View biodiversity threatened (.xls 63kb) by high priority widespread weeds in the NRCMA region

Stage 2. Identify sites for the control of priority widespread weeds

All stakeholders in the Namoi CMA region were invited to nominate areas of high biodiversity value currently under threat from the priority widespread weeds. Information from site nominationswas used to rank sites for control to ensure long term conservation outcomes, particularly with respect to the NRC invasive species target. A map of the high priority sites determined by this project as of August 2010 for the NRCMA region is provided.

• View the map of high priority sites (.pdf 447kb) in the NRCMA region. 

How to nominate a site in Northern Rivers CMA Region

Initial site nominations have closed. If you did not get an opportunity to nominate a site before the due date and would still like to, please contact us.

The site nomination process:

• Look at the list of high priority widespread weeds(.pdf 22kb) and select the relevant ones for your local area
• Select an area where at least one of these weeds is impacting on biodiversity and fill in a nomination form for the site. The site nomination form is available for download in either excel format or pdf format. The excel spreadsheet is most useful for nominating multiple sites while the pdf form may be more useful for use in the field. Please follow the instructions.

Download

• Nomination form in excel (.xls 129kb)
• Nomination form pdf (.pdf 20kb)
• Instructions (.pdf 36kb)

Submit the nomination form by email, post or fax:

Postal Address
Project Officer (CMA Weeds Project)
Pest Management Unit, National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 1481

Fax
ATT: Project Officer (CMA Weeds Project), Pest Management Unit
(02) 9585 6401

Stage 3. Undertake control and monitoring at high priority sites

The development of standard site-specific management plans prior to the commencement of weed control programs at priority sites will help ensure program success and conservation outcomes. Site management plans should be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and clearly identify and determine the roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders for each stage of the plan. Find out more about taking a staged approach to weed control at high priority sites.

• Download a site management plan pro-forma for high priority sites (.doc 139kb)
• View a completed example site management plan (.doc 745kb)

Monitoring is an important component of weed control programs to ensure that control is delivering desired outcomes. When the key objective is biodiversity conservation monitoring programs must explicitly assess both the reduction in the weed population and the recovery of biological assets at risk. The monitoring guidelines proposed for use at high priority sites were initially developed for the Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan (TAP). These guidelines have already been successfully adopted for the national Lantana Plan and would be effective for monitoring most weed control programs with the exception of vines and aquatic weeds where other techniques would be required.The bitou bush monitoring manual outlines a three-tiered approach to monitoring with techniques ranging from simple qualitative assessments to robust research studies, allowing managers to adopt the level most suitable to their objectives and desired outcomes, skills and resources:

1. Tier 1: Simple techniques - Mapping of weed and native cover, photo points
2. Tier 2: Advances techniques - Quantifying weed and native abundance with more precision using transects and quadrats
3. Tier 3: Scientific study - Investigation of weed and native response in controlled and uncontrolled areas.

It is envisaged that in most cases, stakeholders will be able to carry out either Tier 1 or Tier 2 monitoring.

Questions?

See the list of Frequently Asked Questions or please contact us. You can also find out more about current projects in the Northern Rivers CMA at their website.