STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2022 - Keeping nature safe from dangerous new invaders - Invasive Species Council
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Building an informed & motivated community… Builds political support & contributes to solutions… Leading to a good biosecurity system… Lowering the risk of new invasive species becoming established… And lowering future impacts on our environment Photos: Cassowary chick, Emmagen Creek (Dan Gordon | Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0); in the lab (Ibbl | Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0); Yellow crazy ant, David Wilson. INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL: Strategic Plan 2018-2022
Prevention & early action When Europeans first arrived in If we have learned anything it is that Australia they ushered in an era Australia cannot afford anymore of unprecedented invasions that harmful invasive species. continue to this day. That’s why we want Australia to develop First came the rabbit, fox and feral cat, a first line of defence, a biosecurity then the cane toad. Noxious overseas system that will keep us safe from new weeds now number in their thousands. harmful invasive species like yellow crazy ants, which threaten Queensland’s Some can be controlled and contained, Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. but most continue to wreak havoc BIOSECURITY on our wildlife and environment, our The key to this biosecurity system is prevention and early action. is the protection of farming communities and economy. the environment, economy and Eradication, containment public health from negative impacts & control associated with pests, diseases and On the Australian mainland • Lobbying for government-led weeds. we still have time to eradicate containment strategies for emerging recently introduced invasive pests such as feral deer and horses. Cover photos: Myrtle rust on scrub myrtle, Tim Low; Asian black-spined toad, DEPI; species such as yellow crazy ants • Supporting targeted control yellow crazy ant, David Wilson; smooth newt; John Beniston (CC BY-SA 3.0); and red fire ants before they get measures underpinned by science. Koster’s curse, Kim Starr; feral deer; out of control. Federation Training students. • Promoting the ‘general biosecurity Below: Fox on the hunt in Edithvale And on our 8300 islands we have obligation’. wetlands, Victoria (Wayne Butterworth | Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0); Koster’s curse, Kim unique opportunities to remove pests Starr. such as rats, cats and rabbits, liberating native wildlife from harmful invaders. Control of widespread invasive species must be science-based and supported by research. Governments and community effort must target those areas where the damage is greatest. That’s why our work includes: • Facilitating eradication of Invasive species recent mainland arrivals and threaten more invasive species from than 75% offshore islands. of amphibians, birds and mammals listed as threatened in Australia. A report written by Tim Low and Invasive species commissioned by the Invasive Species Council in 2017 indicates invasive species threaten more have caused the most animal extinctions than half Feral cats: and pose the main threat to a number of the native plants, fish, the biggest animal groups in Australia. reptiles and invertebrates on Australia’s Feral animals problem for our threatened species list. and introduced threatened diseases mammals pose a greater ongoing threat outranking inappropriate to Australia’s most vulnerable fire regimes, foxes and native animals than habitat loss. habitat loss. PUBLISHED JULY 2018
OUR OBJECTIVES 1 PREVENTION & EARLY ACTION A ‘biosecurity system’ is in Highlight the place by 2022 that reduces benefits of biosecurity and costs the risk to Australia’s natural of inaction environment. An effective biosecurity system requires a systematic identification and reduction Ensure a of risks. It requires leadership by federal, state and territory governments, Support the best-practice community involvement and institutions community’s biosecurity armed with the necessary resources and role 75% of system is in clear responsibilities for preparedness, place risk reduction and rapid responses. It our work requires ecologically-based thinking. This objective makes up 75% of our external effort. Work with Ensure threats Strategies to government and and pathways are collaborate with achieve this identified others Provide compelling information to the broader public 1.1 Develop case studies and stories about invasive insects and diseases, invasives species on offshore islands and other threats 1.6 E ncourage and reward success that highlight the cost of inaction such as through the Froggatt and demonstrate the benefits of Awards and highlight required prevention and early action. improvements. 1.2 Help local communities understand the impact of Work with processes and invasive species and their role in organisations bringing about change. 1.7 P rovide targeted input to 1.3 Track and publicise new government and political party incursions and where feasible policy development. encourage rapid action. 1.8 C ollaborate with non- Promote an effective environmental organisations that biosecurity system and reward seek similar goals. success OUR VISION Support and demonstrate 1.4 Seek the adoption of a practical action Australia and the biosecurity system that protects Australia from invasive insects, 1.9 Promote the community’s southwest Pacific diseases, marine pests and other role in designing biosecurity environmental threats. systems, minimising risks as well have a biosecurity 1.5 Seek improved compliance for as undertaking treatment and system that stops surveillance. new invasive species the keeping of illegal reptile pets and tighten state and federal laws 1.10 I nitiate or support efforts to and has reduced the permitting invasive aquarium fish, identify threats from insects, fungi invasive pastoral grasses and weedy and other priority invasive species impacts of existing garden plants. and their potential pathways. invasive species. INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL: Strategic Plan 2018-2022
OUR MISSION Invasive rats and mice have been responsible for the extinction of five bird species on Lord Howe Island. Eradicating the rodents would help save remaining birds like the endemic Lord To protect the Howe Island White-eye. Photo: Eric de Leeuw | Flickr CC licence 2.0 environment from 2 harmful new invasive E RADICATION, species through CONTAINMENT & CONTROL prevention and early action. Eradicate invasive species 2.2 E ncourage the eradication of from selected offshore recently introduced invasive species on the mainland such islands and sites, contain as yellow crazy ants and red emerging species and direct imported fire ants in Queensland public and community and smooth newts in Victoria. control efforts to Advocate for containment threatened sites. 2.3 A dvocate for government-led Eradication of invasive species is strategies that contain feral deer achievable and highly beneficial on and other emerging species. offshore islands. Where eradication is not possible containment must be Support targeted control attempted, while for widespread species the impact must be reduced using a 2.4 dvocate for financial and A coordinated science-based approach practical support for community involving land managers, government, and government-led invasive scientists and the community. species containment and targeted control initiatives. This objective makes up 25% of our external effort. 2.5 P romote adoption of a ‘general biosecurity obligation’, supported by education and Lord Howe Island. Photo: Robert Whyte Strategies to compliance. achieve this 2.6 P romote adoption of control practices advanced by leading Facilitate eradication scientists and practitioners. 2.1 T hrough partnerships, facilitate 2.7 U rge government funding for the eradication of invasive research to develop biological species from offshore islands. controls and innovative control methods. PUBLISHED JULY 2018
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