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Blackberry Nightshade – Environmental Weed

One of the world’s worst weeds (Holm) Blackberry nightshade (Solanum americanum & S.nigrum) is a weed of 37 crops in 61 countries. Alternate host for diseases including anthracnose, Cercospora, blight, leaf spot and powdery mildew, at least 13 nematodes, 3 bacterial diseases, 7 fungal diseases including Rhizoctonia and over 30 crop viruses. (more…)

Seasonal Migration… and those that stay

It’s that time again! The humpback whale annual migration is heading south and the marine turtle courting and breeding season begins – ­where adult courting males and nesting females return to their birthplace from areas hundreds of kilometres abroad.

While these migratory breeding cycles increase whale and turtle populations, sadly, some individuals remain and become part of the island’s food-web providing extra sustenance for terrestrial scavengers including the island’s apex predators. (more…)

QPWS Funding for Strategic Pest Management

Annual funding applications for State Government priority pest management projects were recently approved. The Great Sandy National Park (GSNP) and Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area (IPRA) received a substantial part of the allocated funding.

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Lessons from Other World Heritage sites: Japan

I have to insist to my disbelieving family and others that my trip to Japan is not a holiday but really is a study tour and part of my quest to see what can be learnt in how other World Heritage sites are being managed.  I am particularly interested in island World Heritage sites and I have already visited two of Japan’s natural World Heritage sites that are islands, Yakushima and Ogasawara.  However, the latest World Heritage nomination of four island’s in the chain of small islands stretched out in an arc between the southern island and Taiwan that includes the Okinawa archipelago is of special interest.

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Irresponsible Pet Owners Impact K’gari Wildlife

A recent rise in reports and images of domestic dogs on K’gari has prompted Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service along with concerned stakeholders to release media requests asking all visitors to leave their dogs at home when they visit World Heritage listed Fraser Island (K’gari).

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Field Work Report: August 2017 Happy Valley Weeding Trip

This was the 15th trip since Peter started as team leader and while his team have worked on a number of weed species during that time, the main focus has been on Abrus precatorius subspecies africanus. (more…)

Time, Tide and Tourism Conference

Never underestimate the power of sharing knowledge – especially when it comes to a World Heritage property.

One hundred people attended the 7th Biennial (Time, Tide and Tourism) Conference at the University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs in August.  Like the previous six conferences there was much informal interaction between the attendees, all of whom have a strong interest in K’gari.  While some of the issues discussed such as managing K’gari’s invasive species are perennial topics, it was helpful for the audience to gain an insight into the progress being made and the on-going effort required.  (more…)

Watch Out For Rat Birds!

Please be on the lookout for Indian myna birds (or if you have watched “cloudy with a chance of meatballs”- Ratbirds) as several have been sighted on Fraser Island.  (more…)

Garden Escapee from Africa and Asia: Glory Lily

The Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) is a perennial herb with climbing stems up to 4m that die off over winter, with long lived underground tubers.   (more…)

Bitou Bush Surveillance UAV trial

Bitou bush has the ability to out compete and smother native coastal dune vegetation.  Infestations within the Great Sandy National Park have been dramatically reduced since the 1980’s, with only isolated plants being found in the field today.

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