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Control of Invasive Animals in Parks Victoria’s parks and reserves Dr. Mark Norman, Chief Conservation Scientist Ben Fahey, Statewide leader, Invasive Species Roger Fenwick, Regional Director, East Region Invasive animals in Victoria Statewide problem Key species • Predators: foxes, cats, wild dogs • Grazers: rabbits, deer, goats, horses • Omnivores: pigs • Freshwater: trout, European carp • Marine: North Pacific seastar, European shore crab, NZ screw shell, Mediterranean fanworm Impacts • Direct predation/grazing on native animals and plants • Habitat destruction • Impacts on water quality • Direct impacts on agriculture and other land uses • Vectors for transfer of diseases, pests and weeds Parks Victoria’s roles and responsibilities Responsible for: • 4.2 million hectares of parks and reserves • 18% of Victoria, 54% of Crown lands Mandated to: • Protect and manage plants, wildlife, habitats and sites of cultural significance • Ensure quality, safe and sustainable public access and experiences Manage diverse invasive species control programs across the state: • Introduced predator control programs • Total grazing management programs • Weed control • Often managing the impacts of a mix of introduced and native species • Priority protection of threatened species and habitats Parks Victoria works actively with many agencies to tackle invasives Victoria’s invasive species operating environment State conservation and invasive species legislation Federal legislation Government Policy Land reservation purpose. LCC, ECC and VEAC recommendations On ground programs Management Services Agreement Recovery and threat abatement plans State invasive plants and animals framework Management Plans and action plans Who does what in Victoria Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources • Setting state-based policy for invasive species • Incursion response to new priority invasive species in Victoria • Representing Victoria on national invasive species issues • Delivery of enforcement and compliance services for Noxious weeds and pest animals • Policy development for game hunting and game management. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning • Biodiversity and public land use policy for whole of state • Policy, investment, research and regulation to support healthy natural ecosystems, including the protection of threatened species. Parks Victoria • Land manager for the parks and reserves estate on behalf of the Secretary DELWP • Manages invasive plants and animals to reduce their impacts on biodiversity, cultural heritage and other values of the Victorian parks estate • Applied research and monitoring of the effectiveness and humaneness of control. Catchment Management Authorities • Regional and catchment planning, including pest plant and animal strategies. What is invasive animal management? Invasive species are a shared problem, and require shared solutions. • Justified, effective and humane. • Addressing actual versus perceived impacts • Using management methods that can rapidly reduce impacts while also meeting safety, target specificity and humaneness standards • Demonstrating achievement in terms of reduced impact. Managing and understanding pest animal impacts based on science - not about killing things. Conservation Plans Area treated for pest animals by species 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000 1400000 1600000 1800000 Brown Rat Brown Trout Feral Cat Dog European Rabbit European Hare Deer Feral Cattle Feral Goat Feral Horse Feral Pig Red Fox Common Myna European Wasp ROGER NOW ROGER NOW