Progress against the national bridal creeper strategic plan and future priorities for Asparagus weed management in Australia
Dennis J. GannawayA and John G. Virtue
Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
A Correspondence author.
Summary
Bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce, is a declared Weed of National Significance (WoNS) in Australia and a national strategic plan has been in place since 2001 to advance its management. Whilst the plan is largely focused on bridal creeper, its scope includes other Asparagus weeds in Australia. A national workshop was held in November 2005 to document progress against the plan and determine future priorities in Asparagus weed management. Key achievements to date include (i) the establishment of active national, state and regional committees, managing strategic and on-ground projects, (ii) national distribution of biological control agents for bridal creeper, (iii) production of best-practice management guides and (iv) strategic containment of other, emerging Asparagus weeds. Key future priorities for the National Asparagus Weeds Management Committee are the post-biocontrol recovery of native vegetation, early intervention against the newly discovered Western Cape form of bridal creeper and strategic investment into national management of other Asparagus species.
Plant Protection Quarterly (2006) 21 (3) 122-125.