NSW Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan - Department of ...

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4 Threat Abatement Plan - Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera 2.1.3 Biological Control Act The use of non-native biological organisms (the agent) to control a specific pest or weed species (the target) is governed by the Biological Control Act 1984 (BC Act). The BC Act establishes a detailed set of procedures and a framework for the selection of agents (through host-specificity testing), the importation of agents into Australian quarantine and the intentional release of agents from quarantine. Prior to allowing importation and intentional release from quarantine, the impacts of the agent on the target as well as non-target species are assessed. In addition, the importation of biological control agents requires approval from Biosecurity Australia (part of the Department of Agricultural Forestry and Fisheries Australia: DAFF), the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), and the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH). The Australian Weeds Committee (AWC), in conjunction with the Natural Resource Management Standing Committee [NRMSC: formerly the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management (SCARM)] must also approve all biological control proposals before any control is attempted. Approval includes wide consultation with all stakeholders. In February 1986 the Standing Committee on Agriculture (SCA: a predecessor of NRMSC) approved a biological control program for bitou bush in New South Wales as conventional control methods were deemed ineffective at suppressing the spread and impact of large-scale bitou bush infestations. Host-specificity testing undertaken in South Africa identified 19 potential agents for the control of C. monilifera (bitou bush and boneseed) in Australia (being 17 insects and two pathogens: see Adair and Edwards 1996). Nine of these agents have been released in Australia, with an additional agent recently approved for release on boneseed. Several other agents have been rejected after initial testing (for a full review of the biological control program for C. monilifera in Australia see Downey et al. submitted). Of the remaining agents several are identified as having potential for boneseed, and one for bitou bush, however all these agents will require significant additional resources and time (see Downey et al. submitted). Of the six agents released for the control of bitou bush to date, only four have established, being the bitou tip moth (Comostolopsis germana Prout), bitou tortoise beetle (Cassida sp.), bitou seed fly (Mesoclanis polana Munro) and bitou leaf roller moth (Tortrix sp.). 2.1.4 Commonwealth Coastal Policy In May 1995 the Australian Government initiated its coastal policy. The Commonwealth Coastal Policy (CCP) arose in response to several government reports on the status of Australia’s coastline/coastal zone. The CCP addresses the nature and complexity of coastal management. The CCP acknowledges that coastal management cannot be achieved by any one jurisdiction and that the management of Australia’s coastal zone needs to be shared across all levels of government and the community. The CCP is a blueprint for the management and use of Australia’s coastal zone with the aim to ‘promote ecologically sustainable use of Australia’s coastal zone’ (DEH 2005). The CCP acknowledges that indigenous Australians manage a significant proportion of the Australian coastal zone and as such need to be included in the development and implementation of the CCP. Several objectives of the CCP are of direct relevance/importance to the management of bitou bush. The relevant resource conservation objectives are:
Threat Abatement Plan - Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera < to conserve and manage areas and features of significant ecological, physical, cultural, historic, landscape and scientific importance, so that their values are maintained < to maintain the biological diversity and productivity of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and natural processes within the coastal zone for present and future generations. Where environmental qualities have been degraded remedial action should be taken to restore them. The relevant public participation objectives are: < to ensure that there is informed public participation in open, consultative processes dealing with planning and management of coastal resources < to recognise the interests in the coastal zone of Australia’s indigenous peoples and incorporate these interests in management arrangements 2.1.5 National Weeds Strategy The National Weeds Strategy (NWS: ARMCANZ et al. 1997) targets the management of nationally significant weeds through four principles: < Weed management is an essential and integral part of the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment, and requires an integrated multi-disciplinary approach. < Prevention and early intervention are the most cost-effective techniques that can be deployed against weeds. < Successful weed management requires a coordinated national approach, which involves all levels of government in establishing appropriate legislative, educational and coordination frameworks in partnership with industry, landholders and the community. < The primary responsibility for weed management rests with landholders/land managers, but collective action is necessary where the problem transcends the capacity of the individual landholder/land manager to address it adequately. The goals of the NWS are to: < prevent the development of new weed problems < reduce the impact of existing weed problems of national significance < provide cost efficient and effective means for harnessing national action on weed management. Before the second goal could be achieved, a list of the Weeds Of National Significance (or WONS) had to be developed. A further discussion of WONS and how they were determined is presented below. In 2005 the Australian Government initiated a review and revision of the NWS. A discussion paper from the revision process recommended a number of changes to the NWS, however the revised NWS was not available at the time of writing. 5
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