The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is hosting the annual Biosecurity Blitz campaign, which will run until 16 November.
Development Officer at the Department, Laura Fagan said the 2020 program included a number of initiatives to encourage people to survey their local area and find out what biosecurity threats could be lurking in their backyard.
Ms Fagan said the campaign took the form of a challenge which featured a series of activities across a different theme for each week, which provided opportunities to explore and discover habitats, plant species, insects and soil organisms.
“Those that sign up and complete the challenge and achieve ‘boffin status’ will win a unique biosecurity prize,” Ms Fagan said.
“The annual School Challenge also provides an opportunity for teachers and students to get out of the classroom to undertake surveillance and learn more about the importance of biosecurity.”
Ms Fagan said the community played an important role on the front line of surveillance in the State’s biosecurity defence system.
“Early detection is imperative to identify the presence of a biosecurity threat that could cost our valuable agriculture industry in terms of lost production and control costs, as well as affect the environment and our outdoor lifestyle,” she said.
“Surveillance is also important to demonstrate the absence and presence of biosecurity threats, to support access to interstate and overseas markets.”
The Department is currently engaged in a number of biosecurity responses, including Queensland fruit fly, red imported fire ants, browsing ants and Fall armyworm.
“These responses highlight the importance of surveillance and Government, industry and community collaboration to ensure our biosecurity defences are effective and robust,” Ms Fagan said.
