Join a volunteer group
Volunteer groups play a vital role in caring for our soil, water, plants and wildlife. Many of these groups work to reduce the impact of environmental weeds.
You can see a list of NPWS volunteer programs in parks and reserves around NSW, including the Hawkweed volunteer program in Kosciusko National Park.
In addition, the following organisations run and/or support conservation projects in local communities:
Pest animals
You can help reduce the impact of pest animals:
- Keep your cat or dog indoors at dawn, dusk and night. Native animals are most vulnerable to attack at these times.
- Make sure pet cats are de-sexed. Large numbers of feral cats already inhabit bushland areas, and many carry diseases, such as feline aids, which can endanger your pets.
- Attach loud bells to your pet's collar, to warn wildlife when they are around.
- Report suspected cane toads, especially if they're not already present in your area.
- Give lizards and small marsupials a refuge from cats and dogs, by placing terracotta pipes and piles of stones around your garden.
Weeds
There are many things you can do to help stop the spread of weeds into your local bushland areas.
- Avoid weedy garden plants. Ask your nursery for plants that are appropriate for your region. They will be adapted to local conditions, and native plants will attract native fauna. There are several schemes under way to promote native plants and prevent the spread of garden weeds.
- Remove weeds from your garden. Many weeds have tiny seeds or spores that can be carried into bushland on the wind, or by birds and other animals. Here they may sprout and establish new weed populations. Your local council weeds officer can provide advice regarding weeds, and can advise if a plant may cause harm should it escape your garden. Invasion of native habitat by escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants, is listed as a key threatening process .
- Don't dump garden waste in or near bushland. This can introduce new weeds via seed or plant fragments. Don't sweep or hose garden waste down the drain. Weed seeds and fragments can float downstream and establish new weed populations. Compost garden waste instead.