1 Determination of the biodiversity at risk from lantana invasion Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Climate.

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Determination of the biodiversity at risk

from lantana invasion

Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change,

PO Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia.

Pete Turner and Paul Downey

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given:• lantana is widespread• control is not possible across entire range and• control does not necessarily lead to biodiversity

conservation

managing lantana for biodiversity

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given:• lantana is widespread• control is not possible across entire range and• control does not necessarily lead to biodiversity

conservation

to get the maximum benefit from our control programsaimed at protecting biodiversity, we need to undertakecontrol where the benefits to biodiversity would be thegreatest

managing lantana for biodiversity

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given:• lantana is widespread• control is not possible across entire range and• control does not necessarily lead to biodiversity

conservation

to get the maximum benefit from our control programsaimed at protecting biodiversity, we need to undertakecontrol where the benefits to biodiversity would be thegreatest

this requires information on the biodiversity at risk andsite information

managing lantana for biodiversity

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• Impacts of weeds on threatened biodiversity in NSW lantana threatens 10% of all listed species in NSW the most commonly

recorded weed threat

key publications to determine biodiversity at risk

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• Impacts of weeds on threatened biodiversity in NSW lantana threatens 10% of all listed species in NSW the most commonly

recorded weed threat

• Weed Impacts to Native Species (WINS) assessment process Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan

key publications to determine biodiversity at risk

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• background and overview of NSW Bitou background and overview of NSW Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)

• how the Bitou TAP is being applied nationally how the Bitou TAP is being applied nationally for lantanafor lantana

• identification of biodiversity at risk (round identification of biodiversity at risk (round table)table)

• mapping and site informationmapping and site information

• background and overview of NSW Bitou background and overview of NSW Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)

• how the Bitou TAP is being applied nationally how the Bitou TAP is being applied nationally for lantanafor lantana

• identification of biodiversity at risk (round identification of biodiversity at risk (round table)table)

• mapping and site informationmapping and site information

talk outlinetalk outline

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the bitou bush experience in NSWthe bitou bush experience in NSW(Chrysanthemoides monilifera)

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1. Bitou TAP positively received1. Bitou TAP positively received

2. NHT funding secured to implement the 2. NHT funding secured to implement the Bitou TAP Bitou TAP [ $1.6M over 3 years for [ $1.6M over 3 years for implementation]implementation]

support for the Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) support for the Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)

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1. Bitou TAP positively received1. Bitou TAP positively received

2. NHT funding secured to implement the 2. NHT funding secured to implement the Bitou TAP Bitou TAP [ $1.6M over 3 years for [ $1.6M over 3 years for implementation]implementation]

3. Defeating the Weeds Menace funding 3. Defeating the Weeds Menace funding secured to develop and implement a secured to develop and implement a national lantana strategynational lantana strategy based on the based on the Bitou TAPBitou TAP

support for the Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) support for the Bitou Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)

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Lantana and bitou invasion listed as a key Lantana and bitou invasion listed as a key threatening process in NSWthreatening process in NSW

TAP Objective:TAP Objective: abate, ameliorate or eliminate abate, ameliorate or eliminate the threat posed by the KTP to threatened the threat posed by the KTP to threatened biodiversitybiodiversity

[ [ listing process outlined under the TSC Actlisting process outlined under the TSC Act ] ]

Key Threatening Process in NSWKey Threatening Process in NSW

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Lantana and bitou invasion listed as a key Lantana and bitou invasion listed as a key threatening process in NSWthreatening process in NSW

TAP Objective:TAP Objective: abate, ameliorate or eliminate abate, ameliorate or eliminate the threat posed by the KTP to threatened the threat posed by the KTP to threatened biodiversitybiodiversity

Question:Question:what is the biodiversity threatened?what is the biodiversity threatened?

[ [ listing process outlined under the TSC Actlisting process outlined under the TSC Act ] ]

Key Threatening Process in NSWKey Threatening Process in NSW

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Sources in Number of chronological plant speciesorder at risk in NSW

KTP nomination 3 National Strategy (WONS) 6Draft TAP 63Final TAP 158

KTP = key threatening process TAP = threat abatement plan

species threatened by bitou bushspecies threatened by bitou bush

bitou bush TAPbitou bush TAP

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Weed Impacts to Native Species Weed Impacts to Native Species (WINS) assessment process: (WINS) assessment process:

1 literature + research/unpublished data1 literature + research/unpublished data

22 workshops involving people working workshops involving people working with bitou bush or native specieswith bitou bush or native species

3 3 draft list of species circulated and draft list of species circulated and reviewedreviewed

4 4 model final list of speciesmodel final list of species

bitou bush TAPbitou bush TAP

stagestage

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Approximately 65% are not listed under the Approximately 65% are not listed under the NSW NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.1995.

However, examination of species at risk However, examination of species at risk other than plants has not been undertaken other than plants has not been undertaken to the same extent (ie. for animals).to the same extent (ie. for animals).

bitou bush TAPbitou bush TAP

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Applying the TAP process for Applying the TAP process for lantana nationallylantana nationally

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a plan for biodiversity conservation

•control is undertaken where the benefits to biodiversity are the greatest

•by knowing the species at risk control techniques and recovery actions can be tailored

•monitor the outcomes of control and adapt management as needed

•limit detrimental effects to native species followingcontrol•prevent re-infestation or weed substitution

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assessing the biodiversityat risk:

applying the WINS assessment process to lantana

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Weed Impacts to Native Species (WINS) assessment Weed Impacts to Native Species (WINS) assessment process:process:

1 literature + research/unpublished data1 literature + research/unpublished data

22 workshops involving people working with workshops involving people working with lantana or native species (across lantana’s lantana or native species (across lantana’s

range)range)

3 3 draft list of species circulated and revieweddraft list of species circulated and reviewed

4 4 final list of species or communities rankedfinal list of species or communities ranked

determining biodiversity at risk

stagestage

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Number of Number ofplant species animal species

Year at risk at risk

2002 20 2003 242004 322005 45 22005 * 160 212006 # 165 23

species threatened by lantana (2006)species threatened by lantana (2006)

biodiversity at risk

* trial of the WINS approach from 2 workshops only (Lismore and Brisbane)# this assessment was of the NSW Threatened Species Act only (see Coutts-Smith & Downey 2006)

Stage 1 of WINS assessment:Stage 1 of WINS assessment:

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Workshops • discussion on all biodiversity potentially at risk • reasons why at risk• develop interim list of species

determining the impacts across NSW & Qlddetermining the impacts across NSW & Qld

Stage 2 of WINS assessment:Stage 2 of WINS assessment:

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Workshop locations

determining the impacts across NSW & Qlddetermining the impacts across NSW & Qld

Distribution of lantana within NSW and Qld as well as within Natural Resource Management Bodies (or Catchment Management Authorities)

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Aim to compile:Aim to compile:

• a list of species affected by lantanaa list of species affected by lantana

• justification for inclusion of the species at risk justification for inclusion of the species at risk using standard codes or termsusing standard codes or terms

• sources of the informationsources of the information

• vegetation type associated with each speciesvegetation type associated with each species

Stage 2 of WINS assessment:Stage 2 of WINS assessment:

today’s workshoptoday’s workshop

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NP The native species is not present in infested areas of that species’ typical vegetation community or range. This can be determined by comparing infested and un-infested sites, as well as anecdotal or observational data about declines following invasion.

D There is clear evidence that the weed displaces the native species. For example, the native occurs at lower than ‘normal’ densities in invaded sites, but is not totally out-competed or excluded.

OCS Suppresses the native species by reducing individual’s vigour or reproductive output.

RP Recruitment is prevented. ie. adult population is at 'normal' or 'near-normal’ density, but no or few juveniles are present.

CAR The native species is considered at risk, but more information is needed to determine the level of risk.

justification terms and codesjustification terms and codesN

egat

ive

imp

acts

:

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AH+ There is clear evidence that the weed provides an additional habitat for the native species. For example, the native species occurs at higher than ‘normal’ densities in invaded sites.

P+ The weed promotes the native species by increasing individual’s vigour or reproductive output through such things as increased resources, providing food for animals or changes to soil characteristics.

justification terms and codesjustification terms and codesP

osit

ive

imp

acts

:

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AH+ There is clear evidence that the weed provides an additional habitat for the native species. For example, the native species occurs at higher than ‘normal’ densities in invaded sites.

P+ The weed promotes the native species by increasing individual’s vigour or reproductive output through such things as increased resources, providing food for animals or changes to soil characteristics.

N Animals have switched to utilising the weed as a result of native vegetation being replaced by lantana, but there has been no change in their overall density or condition.

justification terms and codesjustification terms and codesP

osit

ive

imp

acts

:N

eutr

al:

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verifying and finalising the biodiversity at risk

what’s next

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revise interim list (stage 3 of the WINS)- interim list will be placed on the web site for comment and revision

- revise and finalise list of species at risk

determining the biodiversity at risk

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knowing the biodiversity at risk is only half the

management problem:selecting sites for control

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information needed to rank sites

What we need to select sites:

• list of sites

• site attributes

• maps

• process to rank sites for control

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1effectiveness of control at site(is control possible and effective)

2actual impact(degree of impact posed to native species)

3condition 1 of the species (popn vs whole range)2 other threats present

ranking sites:

site selection process from Bitou TAP

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draft plan available by the end of the year

monitoring guidelines to be developed

as part of the project some of the priority sites will receive initial funding (in 2008/09 - $360K)

future

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Refer to our web-site for further information on WINS system Refer to our web-site for further information on WINS system and the development of the lantana planand the development of the lantana plan

Go to:Go to: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Lantahttp://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Lantana_threat_to_biodiversityna_threat_to_biodiversity

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

further information