Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive SpartinaChapter 4: Spartina Control and ManagementIMPLEMENTING A STRATEGY FOR MANAGEMENT OF RICE GRASS, SPARTINA ANGLICA, INTASMANIA,AUSTRALIAP. HEDGE 1 ,C.SHEPHERD 2 AND C. DYKE 31 National Oceans Office, GPO Box 2139 Hobart Tasmania Australia 7001; Paul.Hedge@oceans.gov.au2 Department <strong>of</strong> Primary Industries, Water and Environment, GPO Box 44 Hobart Tasmania Australia 70013 Rice Grass Advisory Group, PO Box 83 Triabunna Tasmania Australia, 7190INTRODUCTIONSpartina anglica, commonly referred to in Australia asrice grass, was intentionally introduced to Tasmania in <strong>the</strong>1930s because <strong>of</strong> its potential value for coastal engineeringand agriculture. Many decades later, however, <strong>the</strong> vastmajority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> benefits provided by rice grass have beenovershadowed by <strong>the</strong> ecological, social and economic costs<strong>of</strong> its continued spread (Hedge and Kriwoken 2000;Kriwoken and Hedge 2000). In 1996 <strong>the</strong> Rice GrassAdvisory Group (RGAG) was established to provide adviceto <strong>the</strong> Tasmanian Government on future managementoptions for rice grass infestations. The RGAG facilitated <strong>the</strong>formation <strong>of</strong> a partnership between <strong>the</strong> AustralianGovernment, Tasmanian Government, Tasmanian FishingIndustry Council and <strong>the</strong> broader community to fund <strong>the</strong>development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Strategy for <strong>the</strong> Management <strong>of</strong> RiceGrass (Spartina anglica) in Tasmania, Australia (DPIWE2002).The Management Strategy set out a range <strong>of</strong> broadobjectives and associated tasks to reduce <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> ricegrass infestations in Tasmania and identified <strong>the</strong> Department<strong>of</strong> Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) aslead management agency. It also identified area-basedobjectives for each <strong>of</strong> Tasmania’s infested regions andpointed to Fusilade® (active constituent: 212 grams per liter(g/L) fluazifop-P present as butyl ester) as <strong>the</strong> only costeffectiveand practicable technique for controlling anderadicating infestations. It recommended <strong>the</strong> establishment<strong>of</strong> a small, multi-disciplinary team to strategically reducerice grass infestations in collaboration with affectedindustries and communities.In 1997 DPIWE sought funds to implement <strong>the</strong>Management Strategy. After considerable lobbying by <strong>the</strong>RGAG, <strong>the</strong> Natural Heritage Trust Fisheries Action Programprovided US $690,000 in funding, including US $487,000 <strong>of</strong>in-kind support. The DPIWE was charged with <strong>the</strong>responsibility to administer <strong>the</strong> project and a steeringcommittee was established to guide its development.This paper focuses on <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Management Strategy during <strong>the</strong> period from 1998 to 2002.It initially identifies <strong>the</strong> priority risks to program success andlinks <strong>the</strong>se to key management tasks, including <strong>the</strong>development <strong>of</strong> area-based management plans,environmental monitoring programs and targeted research.The tools and approaches used to develop and maintainstakeholder support, environmental monitoring programsand reduce rice grass infestations are also identified anddiscussed. Lessons learned and current challenges for ricegrass management in Tasmania are summarized.IDENTIFICATION OF KEY RISKS TO THE MANAGEMENTPROGRAMReducing rice grass infestations presents a vast range <strong>of</strong>challenges to managers, including complexities associatedwith identification <strong>of</strong> suitable control techniques, logistics <strong>of</strong>field-based operations, and stakeholder support for controlprograms (Kriwoken and Hedge 2000; Hedge et al. 2003).Understanding and effectively addressing <strong>the</strong>se challengeswas recognized by <strong>the</strong> steering committee as being critical toprogram success. Table 1 lists <strong>the</strong> priority risks to programsuccess and links <strong>the</strong>se to key management responses.An essential approach to understanding and effectivelyaddressing priority program risks involved learning frompast and current experiences <strong>of</strong> rice grass management ino<strong>the</strong>r locations. Ga<strong>the</strong>ring published information on <strong>the</strong>ecology and management <strong>of</strong> rice grass provided considerableinformation about rice grass ecology, biology, ecologicalimpacts and overviews <strong>of</strong> various approaches to controlprograms in o<strong>the</strong>r regions, including Australia, New Zealandand <strong>the</strong> United States. Such information was useful forunderstanding <strong>the</strong> range <strong>of</strong> control techniques and strategiesused to manage rice grass. Extensive collaboration andcommunications with experienced rice grass managementteams in Victoria, Australia and Washington State, USAprovided particularly useful insights into <strong>the</strong>se risks andchallenges in <strong>the</strong> field.KEY ELEMENTS OF THE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMEngaging and working with stakeholdersA high level <strong>of</strong> stakeholder engagement was critical to<strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> management program. The Rice GrassAdvisory Group, established in 1996, provided an importantmechanism to bring toge<strong>the</strong>r relevant stakeholder groups sothat <strong>the</strong>ir concerns, perspectives and ideas could be sharedand understood. The Management Strategy recognized thisgroup as <strong>the</strong> central integrating and advisory body for ricegrass management in Tasmania.The Management Strategy required area-basedManagement Plans to be developed, in close collaborationwith local stakeholders, to meet <strong>the</strong> recommendedmanagement objectives for each infested area. Three main- 243 -