Local landholders making progress in the management of invasive plant species
24 Jan 2022
Landholders working closely with Western Local Land Services to improve and sustain the condition of close to 25,000 hectares of natural resources are beginning to see positive results from the work they’ve undertaken.
A total of 25 landholders have been contracted to carry out control works for African boxthorn, mesquite and cactus, using a variety of control methods suitable for local conditions.
“One landholder is getting good results using granular herbicide applied at the base of boxthorn plants,” Senior Land Services Officer, Andrea Cashmere said.
“This method is the most time efficient and effective for them because the plants are scattered over a large open grassland. Opportunistic control is also undertaken while mustering sheep.”
Contract brush cutters are being used in sensitive ecosystems.
“This is a great method of control as there is little soil disturbance and no suckering of boxthorn from roots left behind, as can happen with other mechanical removal,” Ms Cashmere said.
“The landholders know what works for them and the country they manage.”
With African Boxthorn out competing the native understory and altering the structure of the vegetation community, as well as being a haven for pest animals such as foxes and rabbits, the control works are being carried out in targeted areas to help protect Plains-wanderer habitat and Coolibah Black-Box threatened ecological communities.
In addition to this work, Western Local Land Services is continuing to work with landholders to biologically control cactus using cochineal insects, with the insects attaching themselves to the host cactus drawing nutrients and moisture from the plant, eventually killing it.
Landholders or groups looking for further information on this program, or weeds management throughout the Western region in general, can contact Western Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or an online enquiry form.
This project is supported by Western Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the NSW Government.
Media contact: Charlie Whiteley, Western Local Land Services, 0428 679 974.