Latest news with #invasiveSpecies
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
New push to end controversial protections for NSW's Snowy Mountain brumbies
The future of NSW's Snowy Mountain brumbies may hang in the balance if a new bill is passed to repeal controversial protections for the invasive species. Independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr gave notice on Wednesday of his intention to introduce a Bill to repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act. The Act, introduced by former deputy premier John Barilaro, recognised the 'heritage' value of brumbies and mandated their population be reduced to 3000. While it will be years until a new target is set, Invasive Species CEO Jack Gough said even one horse in Kosciuszko would cause 'enormous amounts of damage'. 'The question is the scale of damage that we're prepared to accept,' Mr Gough said alongside Mr McGirr on Wednesday. 'Having 1/3 of the national park set up as an area that is essentially a horse paddock instead of a national park is not something that Australians want.' Mr Gough admitted it would be difficult to reduce the number of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park to zero, but stressed the risk the brumbies posed. 'We know that the Australian landscape did not evolve with large, heavy, hard-hoofed animals that are cutting up that landscape,' he said. 'They are draining the peat moss and are causing enormous amount of damage to the homes of our native species.' In May, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service reported as few as 1500 brumbies may be left in the park following extensive aerial culling. While images released by the Park service showed recovery to the fragile alpine ecosystem, the method of reducing horse numbers has been controversial. Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said there was 'no justification' for aerial shooting at Kosciuszko, and that the party would not be supporting Mr McGirr's bill. If it was passed, she expressed concern it would result in a 'push to kill any remaining animals that are there in the park'. 'The push to actually repeal this act, to open the doors to allow for that killing is mind boggling,' she said. Ms Hurst called on NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to 'keep her word' about aerial shooting. Ms Sharpe told a budget estimates committee aerial shooting had 'ceased for now' in the horse retention area after the population reports were released. Further aerial shooting has taken place outside of the retention area from June 10 until June 30, targeting 'all feral animals'. In a statement, Ms Sharpe said the state government was close to reaching the legislated targeted of 3000 wild horses in Kosciuszko, two years ahead of deadline. 'We're now focused on population management,' she said. 'We will have a look at the Bill, as we do with all Bills.' Future of the Brumby Bill remains unclear If passed, the Mr McGirr's bill would create a transition period from January 1 until July 1, 2027, at which point the previous management plan would end. The Wild Horses Community Advisory Panel will also be dissolved, with the state government freed up to create a new management plan. On Wednesday, Mr Gough and Mr McGirr expressed their confidence that the Bill would be approved with support from Labor and Liberals. Mr Gough said the so-called Brumby Bill had 'no friends left' in either the upper or lower houses, including from the Liberals, Greens, and Labor. Ms Hurst was less certain, raising the possibility it may not be supported by Nationals Party or the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers party. Australian Brumby Alliance President Nikki Alberts is part of a vocal minority in the community who stridently oppose the shooting of brumbies in the park. She also expressed fears that if the Heritage Act was repealed 'they'll go in and shoot them (the brumbies) all'. Ms Alberts said the Alliance had put forward a proposal for management of the brumby population, with a focus on rehoming.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Residents issue urgent PSA after nightmare species rapidly invades community: 'It's expanding as we speak'
Residents in Southern Arizona have sounded an alarm to raise awareness about an invasive grass taking over their area, KGUN reported. The highly invasive buffelgrass has pushed out iconic local species like mesquite trees and saguaros, while sapping the soil of vital nutrients and leaving the desert susceptible to wildfire, per KGUN. "We're on a relatively sharp slope downward to having this area of Southwest Arizona turn into grasslands," Bruce Grieshaber, a local homeowners association president, told KGUN. Originally introduced to Arizona in the 1930s for cattle grazing and erosion control, the highly invasive buffelgrass is native to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, according to the National Park Service. The same characteristics that led people to plant buffelgrass in the first place — its drought tolerance and abundant seed production — have allowed buffelgrass to spread out of control. It now poses a threat to the natural balance of the entire region. "Buffelgrass … is the archenemy of the Sonoran Desert — the invasive grass most likely to cause significant damage to the native ecosystem," the National Park Service warned on its website. Buffelgrass is well-suited for its native habitat of savannah grasslands, where wildfires are part of the local ecosystem cycle and other vegetation has evolved to survive the heat of the flames, per the NPS. However, in the deserts of Southern Arizona, the native vegetation is not similarly adapted, leaving it vulnerable to being wiped out in a fire. Local residents lack the resources necessary to get the buffelgrass under control, let alone eradicate it. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Grieshaber told KGUN that his community has a 26-acre nature park that has been taken over by buffelgrass. "It's expanding as we speak," Grieshaber said. Despite the efforts of local volunteers, to remove all of that buffelgrass would simply require too much work, and the cost of paying to have the grass removed professionally is cost-prohibitive. The HOA even looked into bringing in sheep to graze on the buffelgrass. "We priced it out, and to do probably a couple acres, it would be thousands of dollars," Grieshaber told KGUN. Southern Arizona's struggles against invasive buffelgrass are a prime example of the impact invasive species are having around the globe. Similar stories are playing out elsewhere, with invasive species spreading deadly diseases, hurting crop production, upsetting trade, and crowding out native species. As average global temperatures climb, it aids the spread of invasive species, opening up new regions that previously were too cold for certain species to survive. Unfortunately, when it comes to invasive buffelgrass in Arizona and many similar situations, the only options available involve containment and not total eradication. However, putting even containment plans into effect requires dedicated resources. In 2014, Green Valley, Arizona, and the Pima County Flood Control District received a $70,000 grant to combat the spread of buffelgrass. Using those funds, locals were able to get the buffelgrass situation temporarily under control, per KGUN. However, when the funds ran out in 2017, the buffelgrass returned. Since that time, local HOAs have largely been left to manage the situation on their own. "We need a buffelgrass/wildfire mitigation grant so we can give relief to some of these homeowners associations that are spending thousands of dollars to keep this effort going," said Debbie Valley, president of the Green Valley Council, per KGUN. You can help combat the spread of invasive species in your own backyard or community garden by planting native species, switching to a natural lawn, or rewilding your yard. These steps save money on your water bill and landscaping costs while helping native wildlife like pollinators, birds, and small mammals. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBS News
18 hours ago
- Science
- CBS News
Emerald Ash Borer spotted in Denver, millions of trees at risk
The Emerald Ash Borer has been detected in Denver nearly a decade after city officials began preparing for the invasive wood-boring insect. According to the City and County of Denver, the EAB was confirmed by entomology experts from Colorado State University and Denver's Office of the City Forester after being identified on June 17. The EAB is a non-native pest that has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of the Front Range. An emerald ash borer CBS The city told CBS Colorado that there are 1.45 million ash trees in the Denver metro area, with 330,000 of them in the City and County of Denver. That means about one in every six trees is an ash tree and one in every 10 trees on public land in Denver is an ash tree. "We're grateful that our Office of the City Forester has been preparing for this inevitable discovery, yet this is not a low-stakes battle. EAB has devastated ash tree populations in 37 U.S. states and parts of Canada, costing those communities billions of dollars. Based on this widespread destruction, we've been proactively battling EAB for nearly a decade," said Denver Parks & Recreation Executive Director Jolon Clark in a statement. "In 2016, the Office of the City Forester launched a public education campaign, Be A Smart Ash, to encourage residents to be smart about their ash trees—take action, identify ash trees and, when necessary, treat or replace them." When the EAB was found in Denver, city officials said the Office of the City Forester immediately provided a specimen from the tree to the Colorado State University Entomology Department for confirmation, and the suspect tree was also visited. Arborists recommend using pesticides to treat ash trees before a possible infestation because once beetles attack, it's likely the tree will die and have to be cut down. According to the city, properly administered treatments are 95% effective. Tree removal and replacement can be dangerous work, so it's highly recommended that residents work with a reputable tree care professional, no matter which course of action they choose to take in battling EAB. "Denver has replaced small ash trees on city-maintained land, and a rigorous treatment schedule is in place for some of the historic ash trees on city property. Denver residents who have room in the public right of way next to their property may be eligible for a free replacement tree, and we encourage community members to learn more about that to help sustain our urban forest," said Luke Killoran, Denver's City Forester, in a statement. Additional Information from the City and County of Denver: EAB Tips for Denver Residents: 1. Don't procrastinate: Early detection is key to managing the threat posed by EAB, so don't wait to identify if you have an ash tree. 2. Develop a plan: So you have an ash tree—now what? The short answer is that you have two options: treatment or replacement. Contact a licensed tree expert to help execute your EAB defense plan. 3. Know what to look for: How can you tell if your ash tree is infested with EAB? Look for D-shaped exit holes, bark falling off the tree, wavy trail lines and Northern Flickers (type of woodpecker), among other things. Residents can view a full photo gallery of what they should be looking for. 4. Share what you know: Talk to your neighbors, friends and co-workers about EAB and what they should look for on their ash trees. 5. Buy local, burn local: If you don't move any firewood, you won't move any borers. People unknowingly contribute to the spread of EAB when they transport firewood or other products from ash trees, as EAB larvae stealthily survive and travel hidden under the bark. If an ash tree absolutely must be moved, work with a licensed tree care professional to remove and take all debris.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
'Report Asian hornet nests, don't try to destroy them'
People are being asked to track the location of Asian hornet nests rather than destroy comes as Queen Asian hornets are set to leave their primary nests alongside worker hornets to build their large main nests in new locations, capable of holding up to 2,000 States is asking members of the public to submit photos and information about where they find nests so the Asian hornet team can come and remove Asian hornet is described as a non-native invasive species, which poses a threat to biodiversity, pollinating insects and beekeeping activities. During this year's "Spring Queening" phase, more queen Asian hornets were trapped than any previous year with 69 queens caught and five primary nests of volunteers took part in "a comprehensive island-wide programme" to trap queen Asian hornets as they emerged from hibernation in the spring or as they arrived from France and possibly other islands. "We are really grateful to our trapping volunteers for their support and commitment to this project." said Francis Russell, the States' Asian Hornet Strategy project coordinator."We're also grateful to members of the wider public who have played a vital role in reporting potential Asian hornet or nest sightings to us."If you spot what you think might be a hornet, take a photo, observe where it goes, send the information to us and we'll do the rest."People are being asked to submit the information to asianhornet@ or call 07839 197082.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Philadelphia could see resurgence of spotted lanternflies this year, entomologist says
It's been more than 10 years since spotted lanternflies landed in Pennsylvania, likely arriving on goods shipped from their native home in Southeast Asia. Since then, the invasive species has spread to at least 18 states, causing billions of dollars in agricultural damage. While spotted lanternfly sightings in the Philadelphia area have decreased over the last couple of years, a resurgence could occur soon. There are more than 100,000 different species of insects housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Still, entomologist Greg Cowper says none of them have received more attention in recent years than the Lycorma delicatula, more commonly known as the spotted lanternfly. "We did not have any spotted lanternflies in the collection until they arrived in Berks County," Cowper said. "It's just a beautiful group. It's too bad that these guys are such pests." After arriving in Berks County in 2014, spotted lanternflies quickly spread to every surrounding county, leading to scenes where trees are overtaken. "In years gone by, I mean, you literally were like ankle deep in them practically," Cowper said. "That didn't happen the last couple of years." Like many other insects, Cowper says spotted lanternflies are cyclical, meaning their populations experience years of boom and bust, depending on several environmental factors. After several down years, Cowper says spotted lanternflies are primed for a population explosion. "All the signs are there that there's probably going to be another resurgence of the spotted lanternfly," Cowper said. "I don't think we'll ever have them ankle deep again. No, that's not going to happen, but we might see more of them than we saw last year, this year. That could spell trouble, and not only for the trees in your yard, but also for numerous industries that have already been severely impacted by these pests, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages each year. "They attack grapes, and they attack other agricultural crops," Cowper said. "They attack stone fruit. They attack hardwood trees. So yeah, they could easily be a problem again." So, what can we do? The advice from experts remains the same. When you come across spotted lanternflies, kill as many as you can. It's not easy when they're nymphs or adults because they can hop and fly, so it's best to destroy their eggs, which are laid in masses during the fall.
