Weed Risk Management

Weeds are recognised as a key threat to biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use practices in the Northern Territory. Effective weed control requires an ability to both prevent the introduction of high risk species and prioritise the management of weeds already present in a landscape.

A Weed Risk Management (WRM) system is currently being developed by the Northern Territory Government (NRETA, DPIF&M) in collaboration with Charles Darwin University. WRM is a systematic process used to assess the degree of threat posed by various weeds and our ability to manage them. A ranking system is being developed for prioritising weeds for control in the Northern Territory.

The NT WRM process will provide a standard, transparent, and scientifically based assessment of both potential and current weed species which can be used to prioritise species for weed control. It aims to balance the risk of negative environmental and/or production impacts with the continued demand to use introduced plants by the agricultural, horticultural and nursery sectors in the NT. The WRM model will also provide a more transparent process to determine species which should be declared a weed, potential weed or not a weed.

More specifically, the WRM system is being designed to help make decisions including:

• Deciding which plants should be approved for release in the NT;
• Identifying which plants require further research prior to release in the NT;
• Prioritising weeds for weed management;
• Reviewing the status of declared weeds on NT Declared Weeds List; and
• Determining the appropriate status for undeclared naturalised plants.
  

More Information

• Weed Risk Management Fact sheet  (pdf 372Kb)
• List of species assessed under NT Weed Risk Management System (pdf 38Kb)
  

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