The ACT Parks and Conservation Service and its dedicated volunteers have been congratulated on their efforts to control invasive weeds in the Territory which have been described as ‘massive”.
ACT Conservator for Flora and Fauna, Ian Walker, paid the recognition saying the Service and its helpers had brought under control more than 80 invasive weed species on more than 4,000 hectares of national parks, nature reserves and water catchments in just the past six months.
“The threat from invasive weeds is ongoing and relentless,” Mr Walker said, “so this massive effort by dedicated volunteers and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service is to be congratulated.
“While Serrated Tussock, African Needle Grass and St John’s Wort were the top three targets … invasive plants and weeds such as African Lovegrass are a particular group of weeds that spread aggressively, threatening biodiversity and water catchments and raising fire danger.”
He said the Service employed innovative weed control methods, including use of all-terrain vehicles and drones, with pockets of Prickly Pear reached by abseiling down cliffs.
“Last year, efforts focused on protecting wildflower sites of high conservation value as part of continuing work to protect the ACT’s biodiversity, including threatened species,” Mr Walker said.
He paid a tribute to ParkCare groups saying they were an “enormous help” in maintaining local reserves.
“I would like to thank all ParkCare volunteers for their tireless efforts to keep invasive weeds at bay, making visiting reserves a better experience for the rest of us,” the Conservator said.
“We all have a shared biosecurity duty to control invasive plants, which quickly run rampant if not kept in continual check and threaten the integrity of our water catchments.”
He advised anyone interested in helping protect reserves to consider joining their local ParkCare group.
Information about ParkCare groups can be accessed at this PS News link.
