Weed Management
Weeds in Central Australia are an extremely serious threat to biodiversity in the region.
The CLC Rangers and Regional Land Management staff carry out control work for a variety of declared weeds in conjunction with traditional owners and other Indigenous land managers.
The priority weed species that CLC focuses on are:
- Athel Pine (a Weed of National Significance)
- Parkinsonia (a Weed of National Significance)
- Prickly Pear (a declared weed in the NT)
- Rubber Bush (a declared weed in the NT)
- Buffel Grass (a widespread environmental weed in the region)
- Mexican Poppy (a declared weed in the NT) )
The CLC’s ranger groups have undertaken a range of accredited courses in the safe and effective use of chemicals to control weeds, and use a combination of chemical and manual (chainsaw cutting) removal techniques to address weed threats.
Ranger groups have to make strategic decisions about which weed species to address as a priority, and therefore tend to focus on populations threatening important natural and cultural assets first, and then try to take a catchment-based approach to weed management – treating weeds in upstream locations first before tackling bigger infestations around communities
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