> More climatic disturbance, more bitou
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Posted 25 February 2009
When Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett recently launched the Bitou Bush Management Manual, the Invasive Species Council took the opportunity to warn that bitou problems will worsen under climate change.
“Bitou bush already threatens dozens of rare coastal plants and vegetation communities, but under climate change this devastating and highly aggressive weed has the potential for much greater destruction,” ISC Project Officer Tim Low said.
“Like many weeds bitou bush thrives in areas that have been disturbed. Climate change will bring more violent storms that will open up increased opportunities for this plant to spread.”
Bitou bush has invaded 80 per cent of the New South Wales coastline, on coastal dunes and in rainforests. It grows near the sea in places that are highly susceptible to cyclones, storms and tidal surges.
“This African weed invaded in the past when native vegetation was removed by bulldozers, and vegetation damage by violent weather events will further promote its spread,” Mr Low said.
“Global warming adds greater urgency to the need for better management of weeds like bitou bush and prevention of new weed problems. A warmer world is going to be a much weedier world.
“Other weeds likely to benefit from violent weather along Australia’s coastline include lantana, gloriosa lily, ice plant and myrtle-leaf milkwort.
“The Invasive Species Council welcomes the launch of the Bitou Bush Management Manual and is pleased to see the federal environment minister involved. It signals a federal focus that is much needed on our weed issues.”
Find out more
You can download the Bitou Bush Management Manual from the Weeds Australia website.
ISC media release: Bitou bush bad now, but wait until climate change hits – PDF (133kb).
After more than 10 long years working on Bitou Bush on a headland, dune system and estuarine environment on the NSW south coast, our bushcare group are at the stage where we now know exactly where plants will form from the soil seed bank and we can target them and have a quick sweep through the entire site. This includes Boneseed, Lantana and Blackberry as well. Yes, wonderful. But…
It is very hard to get people to actually “walk the walk” and get their hands dirty in working to remove these (or any other weed) pest.
An EXTRA direction needs to be taken by all environmental and other groups, and the government, to encourage more people to actually do the hands-on work. I personally wish that bush regeneration/restoration was viewed as productive work with an economic value. As it is not, nor likely to be in the near future, we need to encourage everyone to do their bit by volunteering.
As people are generally selfish the first emphasis needs to be placed on the benefits to the individual of volunteering with a bushcare, coastcare, landcare or rivercare group. The second emphasis should then be on the benefits to the environment.
What do other people think? Any ideas or suggestions on getting people to stop complaining around the dinner table and do something? Who could we push to undertake such a campaign?
Another idea I had was if there was a program on television such as Landline / Lateline / Lateline Business devoted entirely to the environment with regular segments on:
- on-ground works,
- new research and trials for on-ground works
- changes to environment laws
as well as environment news stories.
Any comments or ideas on this, too?
Wen
Many Australians care enough about climate change to want to do something practical to help. By showing that there is a link between climate change and weed invasion, ISC hopes to harness their concerns by persuading people to do something about weeds. Our message is that you can do something practical about
climate change problems by controlling bushland weeds.
Tim Low,
ISC