In early August, the Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee (PMMC) in conjunction with Vicki Long and Associations (VLA) hosted their first Calotropis Symposium in Karratha.
Calotropis is a declared weed as identified under WA’s Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007. It has had significant impacts on the environment, landholders, the pastoral industry, and other key sectors.
In the Kimberley, NT and Queensland, Calotropis is no longer able to be effectively contained. Substantial infestations now occur in the East Pilbara, but occurrences in the West Pilbara are still at a stage where control is possible. Industry representatives, Aboriginal groups, pastoralists, conservation groups and other stakeholders are calling for a coordinated discussion on how this weed should be managed in the West Pilbara.
The purpose of the Calotropis forum was to bring together scientists, environmentalists, government agencies, industry, land managers, and Aboriginal groups to examine how Calotropis is affecting our regions, review existing control efforts, and determine effective best-practice approaches. This discussion aims to clarify what assets we are trying to protect and explore how we can work collaboratively to prevent further Calotropis incursion. With a strong attendance of 75 stakeholders, the Symposium certainly had all the right people in the room from the region to have extensive discussions on a preventive plan moving forward.
Outcomes from Symposium
All participants were supportive of a Pilbara wide control program for Calotropis and to be proactive in control: PMMC will develop a regional approach guideline for Calotropis control using collective knowledge and successful IPM control to share with proponents
Event was a great success not only in terms of reporting increased, but those stakeholders in attendance have actively taken the information back and shared, hosted their own forums within their own communities and companies.