Natural Asset Management - July 2013

Feral Animal Summit

Around 90 delegates met in Toowoomba recently for a Feral Animal Summit hosted by QDAFF.  The north region was represented by FNQROC, Cape York Weeds & Ferals and Terrain NRM.  A broad cross-section included players from the usual state and Local Government groups as well as a diverse group of NGO's, landholders, industry groups and other institutions like rural banks not normally seen at such events.  The day enabled a faciltated workshop around the key challenges and opportunities in managing our seemingly burgeoning pest animal problem in Queensland.  The event was launched by John McVeigh, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the language was very much about engaging with stakeholders, taking on board suggestions and seeking innovative ways forward into the future.  It will be a challenge for the Queensland Government to ensure the outcomes of the summit delve beyond the rhetoric and evolve into some concrete steps forward.  Encouraging as always with these events was the degree of positive affirmation it provided for us as a region; we should have confidence the projects, partnerships and initiatives we have in train are well on track and heading in the right direction, or in some cases leading the way.

Pond Apple Working Group

Pond Apple (Annona glabra), a Weed of National Significance, is a major environmental weed threatening northern Australia.  This small to medium size tree forms dense stands particularly in swamp areas.  It invades fresh, brackish and salt water areas and its thickets are capable of replacing whole ecosystems.  Disturbed flood-prone areas are most at risk from pond apple invasion, particularly mangroves, melaleuca woodlands, riparian areas, drainage lines, coastal dunes and islands.  Unlike many weeds, pond apple has an alarming ability to invade relatively undisturbed areas. Pond apple is also a pioneering plant and will opportunistically invade areas after disturbances such as cyclones and floods. FNQROC has facilitated a Pond Apple Working Group (PAWG) since around 2005 and convened a meeting of the group in Cairns last month.

By way of an update on key happenings in the world of pond apple let's start with a glass-half-empty.  We have seen the review and release of the National Management Strategy (after 'sitting on a desk somewhere' for almost 18 months), the disbandment of the National Pond Apple Management Group (after reforming for two meetings), the 'phasing' of National Coordination (with the final demise realised as of June 2013) a steady shrinking of external resources for management programs (Wet Tropics core infestations have not received any injection of external capital of 'note' since Blueprint for the Bush) and finally yet another monster cyclone through more than 50% of the national core infestation in Cassowary Coast.  However, it would seem that despite all the impediments of the above, people have maintained programs, stood by their priorities and kept a steady push on management projects up and down the coast.

A few things of note from a glass-half-full camp are:

• Reef Catchments successful eradication push on a significant southern outline north of Mackay;
• continued development of mechanical control options in the Daintree; 
• successful partnerships getting stuck into remote areas across Cape York;
• continuing progress to eradication in the lower Herbert and an increasing level of adoption and engagement with indigenous ranger groups and organisations who are taking on the cause.

I will provide more soon when the outcomes of the working group are compiled, however in the meantime check out the pond apple resource pages on the FNQPAF website for more information.

Or peruse the National Strategy which was re-released in March 2013. It details in part the role the working group will play in the national push on this weed.

Queensland Weeds Symposium

The 12th Queensland Weed Symposium will be held in Hervey Bay on 15-18 July and will focus on new weed threats  and spreads.  The Symposium which is held every second year and is the peak Queensland event for weed management practice, policy, planning and innovation.  The event provides a crucial opportunity for networking between practitioners and researchers. FNQROC will showcase the partnerhsips and planning of two cross-regional projects, being pond apple and gamba grass.

There's an exciting program of talks, posters and demonstrations.  Weed seed spread and new threats are part of the focus of the Symposium.  Participants will learn about new herbicide aplpication techniques, unmanned helicopters and aquatic weed slashers.

Registrations are still open, for more information click here. 

Upcoming meeting dates:

Gamba Grass Techinical Working Group - 23 July, Mareeba

Queensland Weeds Symposium – 15-18 July, Hervey Bay

Next NAMAC & FNQPAF – 22-23 August, Wujal Wujal

For more information on pest animals and weeds or want to sign up for meeting notices go to the region's very own resource at the Far North Queensland Pest Advisory Forum Website - www.fnqpaf.com.au.