Pests and weeds
The 30 or more types of pest animal and more than 50 weed species in Australia are among the greatest threats to native plants and animals. Pest animals, which are animals introduced to Australia from other countries such as foxes, cats and Indian mynah birds, eat and trample on endangered vegetation, and prey on or compete for habitat with indigenous animals. Invasive weeds such as bitou bush and lantana smother native plants or cover the ground so there is no room for biodiversity to thrive.
DECC spends approximately $18 million a year on pest and animal, and weed control in national parks and reserves, focusing on areas where native plants and animals are the most threatened or where weeds and pests are likely to affect neighbouring lands.
Pest and weed management is coordinated through:
- the NSW Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement
- threat abatement plans such as the one for the European red fox and the one for bitou bush and boneseed
- regional strategies and management plans conducted with other agencies, local government, landowners and the community.
For detailed information on controlling pests and weeds in national parks, see Protecting our national parks from pest and weeds.
Pests and weeds in the 2006 State of the Environment report