Weeds of the future? Threats to Australia’s grazing industries by garden plants
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Executive Summary
This report has been produced by the
CRC for Australian Weed Management
. It extends anearlier publication (Grice 2003) which reported on naturalised plant species that present existingand emerging weed threats to Australia’s grazing industries. The research is underpinned bythe
Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food’s
“Plant Database” (Randall 2006).The database collates information from c. 1.5 million species-related records drawn from over3000 publications and presently treats approximately 576,000 plant taxa. Used in conjunctionwith regional climate zones and by extrapolating from overseas weed experiences, thedatabase provides a unique opportunity to identify weeds currently present in Australiangardens that may threaten Australia’s agricultural industries or natural environment in the future.The research focuses on plants that are currently available in Australian nurseries becausemost of Australia’s naturalised flora has been introduced for ornamental purposes (Groves,Boden & Lonsdale 2005: 18, Spencer 2005: 8; Anonymous 2005: 3; Virtue, Bennet & Randall2004). These plants also present the most immediate threat compared to species outsideAustralia and being in commercial trade enjoy a level of dispersal well beyond that of naturalmeans.The report identifies 281 introduced garden plants (Appendix 1) – as well as 800 lesser priorityspecies (Appendix 2) – which present a significant risk to Australia’s grazing industries shouldthey escape from Australian gardens and naturalise. The research evaluates these risks as aprecursor to formal weed risk assessment. Of the 281 species:
•
Nearly all have been recorded overseas as agricultural or environmental weeds (orboth);
•
More than one tenth (11%) have been recorded as noxious
1
weeds overseas;
•
At least one third (33%) are toxic and may harm or even kill livestock;
•
Almost all have been commercially available in Australia in the last 20 years;
•
Over two thirds (70%) were still available from Australian nurseries in 2004;
•
Almost two thirds (72%) are not currently recognised as weeds under either State orCommonwealth legislation.Whilst studies of predicted economic impact have not been conducted, previous research(Centre for International Economics 2001: 24, 26) has predicted that infestations of just two ofthe 281 species –
Nassella tenuissima
(Trin.) Barkworth
and
Onopordum nervosum
Boiss.
– could cost Australia up to A$82m over the next 40-60 years.
1
This term is usually used for a plant that has been banned by legislation in recognition of the significant threat itpresents to a country’s economy or environment (Spencer 2005: 12).
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