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Posted 25 February 2009

The Invasive Species Council has sounded alarm bells about the potential for serious weed problems to emerge from the recent Victorian bushfires.

The council has written to the Victorian Department of Primary Industries warning that serious weed problems could erupt through the spread of donated fodder, which is being used as feed for starving animals and reportedly being spread within some national parks.

ISC project officer Tim Low says weeds are like looters and shysters who exploit disasters.

“They could thrive in the wake of the Victorian bushfires and the floods in Queensland and NSW,” Mr Low said. “Not just because they spring up in the gaps of destruction but because people are distracted from weed control after natural disasters.”

ISC is warning that the fodder, which has been donated by generous farmers and charities, often carries more weed seeds than is usual in other circumstances.

“Bare areas in which fodder is dumped will be ideal for weed germination, and excreted seeds will be given an extra fertiliser boost,” Mr Low says.

The ISC is urging the Victorian Government to make sure that protocols for fodder distribution are implemented, ensuring that only feed of high quality is used in bushland and on agricultural sites where weeds may spread.

“It is tempting to neglect such protocols in emergencies, but that is when they are most needed,” said Mr Low.

“Pest problems often get started when people are distracted by other problems. Another consequence of extreme weather events is that resources to manage weeds and pests tend to be diverted to help people in emergencies, often for months.”

More information
Email the Invasive Species Council for more information about this story.

References
Davidson, S. 1985. Weeds: A legacy of drought. Rural Research 125: 4-6.

Thomas, A.G., Gill, A.M., et al. 1984. Drought feeding and the dispersal of weeds. The Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 50: 103-07.