4 days ago
Invasive weed vanishes from popular tourist attraction thanks to tiny 'miracle'
One of the country's most invasive and destructive weeds has been officially eradicated from a 400-hectare wildlife sanctuary with the help of an unlikely accomplice, and could soon be replicated around Australia.
Scotch broom was first introduced as a garden plant in the early 1900s, however it quickly spread across Australia's southeast, smothering native vegetation and destroying wildlife habitat — ultimately landing itself on the list of Weeds of National Significance.
Now, in what Tim Faulkner, managing director of sanctuary Aussie Ark, has deemed an 'ecological miracle', the pesky plant has completely vanished from the conservation organisation's site situated near NSW's Barrington Tops, which is also a popular destination for eco-tourists.
'It's thick, short canopy chokes out native flora and wipes out wildlife,' Faulkner said. 'It was all over the Ark. We've been fighting it for years, a decade in fact, with more traditional methods like spraying [and] clearing, with very limited success.'
What is Scotch broom?
Scotch broom (cytisus scoparius) is a deciduous shrub that grows up to four metres tall and has deep-yellow flowers that can also feature a tinge of white and red.
It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia, partly because of its economic and environmental impacts, according to the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. The plant, which is spread solely by seeds, can reduce grazing areas and harbour feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and pigs in its dense thickets, NSW's Department of Primary Industries states.
It is toxic to humans and some animals and will cause discomfort and irritation, but it is not life-threatening. The poisonous seeds can cause high blood pressure and nausea if ingested.
Scotch broom favours disturbed sites such as roadsides and cooler areas with higher rainfall. Along with NSW, the species has been recorded in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.
How did Aussie Ark finally eradicate Scotch broom?
In 2016, Aussie Ark teamed up with Scone Landcare, Landcare NSW and the Department of Primary Industries to release English broom gall mites (aceria genistae) — a tiny insect that specifically targets the invasive plant.
'It's an environmental hero, a natural control solution,' Faulkner said, adding that the ambitious biological control program was a 'slow burn' for the first eight-and-a-half years. 'Then it went boom, and the magic happened.'
Last week, Aussie Ark confirmed the insects had destroyed all remnants of the weed, which was once quite prevalent in the area.
The eradication 'from such a significant sanctuary is not just a local win', Jodie Lovell, enabling program manager at Landcare NSW said, but it's 'a model of success that could be replicated across the state'.
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Local landowners, state forests and national parks called to action
English broom gall mites sit dormant each winter before becoming active again in the spring. 'That's when Aussie Ark wants to strike,' Faulkner said, encouraging local landowners and its neighbouring state forests and national parks to 'get involved'.
'Aussie Ark has the mite — a surplus of them. If you would like to join Aussie Ark to help roll out this natural, biological environmental control program, come join Aussie Ark's war on weeds.'
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