Conservation and Ecosystem Management: CEM Blog

Weed Identification

Weeds - an enormous subject

1. There are many resources within and outside the library including

•  Plant Protection 1 also online here. 

This book is the first in a series that combines the basic principles of pests, diseases, and weeds into a single, integrated program. Plant Protection is a dynamic field and a systematic understanding of the strategies involved is necessary for the successful management of plants and crops and to permit constant updating. It can readily be used in conjunction with the season-related learning of plant pests, diseases, and weeds.

• Tasmanian Weed Handbook also online here.

Weeds are among the most serious threats to Tasmania's primary production and environment. They reduce farm and forest productivity, displace native plant and animal species and communities and contribute significantly to land and water degradation.

• A Guide to Environmental and Agricultural Weeds of Southern Tasmania

What are environmental weeds? Environmental weeds are non-local plants that invade and change our landscapes, threatening the survival of native plants and animals. What are agricultural weeds? Agricultural weeds are also non-local plants that invade our productive areas, including grazing and cropping lands, orchards and berry farms, dairy farms, and vineyards. The impact of weeds on agriculture is over $60 million annually.

• Coastal Weeds of Tasmania

Environmental Weeds can come from all over the world. They can even be Australian native plants outside their natural range. These out-of-place natives can be as devastating as foreign plants. Environmental weeds can out-compete natives and reduce biodiversity. In the past 30 years at least 35% of all plants that have become environmental weeds in Tasmania were deliberately introduced as garden plants! Environmental weeds, spread by wind, birds, or dumped garden waste, can take over natural coastal and bush areas. Weeds can also be spread by boots, vehicles, contaminated soil, mud, gravel, agricultural produce, stock, and feed.