Managing weeds for biodiversity conservation using an asset-based approach

Weeds pose the second greatest threat to biodiversity after land clearing and associated habitat loss in New South Wales (NSW). Many weeds that threaten biodiversity are widespread and usually beyond the scope of prevention and eradication programs developed to deal with new and emerging weed threats. To reduce the impact of widespread weeds on biodiversity (biological assets), control programs need to be prioritised to areas where control is both achievable and likely to have the greatest benefit to native biodiversity, independent of land tenure. Such a site-led approach will ensure maximum benefit from the resources available for the management of widespread weeds. In a joint venture between OEH, DPI and the 13 CMAs, a threat abatement approach was used to identify and prioritise widespread weeds impacting on biological assets and sites for weed control within each CMA region. Following 39 workshops held across NSW, information from 2,631 sites have been collected. Results from these regional assessments are available to individual CMAs and other stakeholders and include regional priority lists of widespread weeds, biodiversity threatened by these weeds and a ranked list of sites for control. Additional tools are also available, including a site ranking spreadsheet so additional sites can be ranked and a standardised monitoring manual to assist in measuring the response of weeds and biological assets following management. This asset-based triage approach will address widespread weeds, including those listed in Key Threatening Processes under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. As such it will help address Goal 3 of the NSW Invasive Species Plan which is to reduce the impacts of widespread invasive species. It is therefore distinct from, but complementary to, weed-led approaches that address Goal 1 – prevent the establishment of new invasive species and Goal 2 – eliminate or prevent the spread of new invasive species.