Abstract 1: Effective pest animal and weed management – Insights from across Australia
Managing pests and weeds is a complex problem with many ecological, economic and social dimensions. ABARES surveyed agricultural land managers across Australia in 2016, 2019 and 2022 to gather data on the severity, impact and cost of pest animals and weeds and their management. The effectiveness of management varied over time, and by control method, scale and species. For example, nationally the proportion of land managers reporting feral pig and wild dog management to be effective decreased from 2016 to 2022, although it increased in some NRMs. We examine how improved access to information and resources, as well as better coordination, could enhance management efforts. Additionally, we consider the significance of social connections for effective management. This national dataset provides valuable insights into the pest animal and weed challenges across Australia and can support management decisions at the NRM scale.
Speaker: Jenifer Ticehurst
Abstract 2: WeedRemeed: Using AI, Drones and Colour Analysis to Rethink Invasive Weed Detection
Early detection of invasive weeds is critical to reducing long-term management costs and protecting biodiversity. WeedRemeed is a new platform that uses low-cost drones, AI image analysis, and colour swatching to identify priority weeds at scale. Developed by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) in collaboration with technology partners, WeedRemeed is currently being trialled across multiple sites to test its effectiveness in real-world environments.
This presentation will provide an overview of the technology and early findings from field trials, while highlighting the practical challenges of deploying emerging tools in complex landscapes. It will also explore the role of innovation and partnerships in building more responsive and efficient weed surveillance systems.
By rethinking how we detect and manage invasive species, WeedRemeed offers a potential shift in trajectory for Australia’s landscape-scale biosecurity efforts. Delegates will be invited to consider future opportunities for collaboration and regional adoption.
Speaker: Sean Freney
Abstract 3: Traditional Owner-led Bogong moth monitoring to shed light on migration patterns and timing
Lack of data on Bogong moth population dynamics is hampering efforts to a) understand the threats responsible for their decline and b) develop appropriate conservation strategies for both the moth and ecologically dependant species such as the Mountain Pygmy-possum.
This project will monitor Bogong moth population movement and abundance at known migration points using automated trail cameras. Collected data will be used to understand moth numbers and movements, and to compare against abundance and biometric data for other comprehensively monitored species, such as the Mountain Pygmy-possum. Informed by reliable data, land managers can gain a clearer understanding of how to apply specific conservation strategies effectively.
The project is being led by three First Nations groups in collaboration with the North East CMA This approach will foster knowledge exchange and integrating traditional ecological knowledge to ensure the Bogong moth monitoring project contributes to conservation efforts and cultural heritage preservation.
Speaker: Phillip Falcke & Ben Timbery
Abstract 4: Taming the terrain: leveraging technology to manage feral cats at landscape scale
The Kangaroo Island Feral Cat Eradication Program faces several unique challenges related to the size and complexity of the Dudley Peninsula. The sheer size of the area to be eradicated necessitates a knockdown approach that can be applied effectively at scale, but the complex mix of land use restricts what tools are available.
The application of cutting-edge technology has enabled increased landowner participation and reshaped the approach to eradication, putting key control and monitoring tools back on the table.
Trap alert technology now links sensors across the entire Dudley Peninsula, with over 1000 traps (cages and soft-jaw leg holds) now connected. This is complimented by an array of over 270 4G-enabled cameras linked to an AI image-processing platform, providing near real-time detections of feral cats across the entire eradication zone. The use of this technology means the program now has cost effective tools that can be applied at scale.
Speaker: Josh Mulvaney
Abstract 5: Shaping the Goulburn River’s Trajectory: Policy, Monitoring and Partnerships
The Goulburn River’s flow regime is changing due to shifting environmental and downstream water needs. The changing landscape of water use includes the recent key driver of large volumes of water traded from the Goulburn to downstream areas. An unintended consequence was the negative impacts observed on the Goulburn River’s ecology from high sustained summer flows.
Long-term ecological monitoring and community concern highlighted the likelihood of irreversible ecological damage and was able change this trajectory through policy change. New trading rules and continuation of ecological monitoring has enabled adaptive management of Goulburn River water deliveries.
This paper emphasises the importance of ecological monitoring underpinning collaborative partnerships of agencies and scientists working to adapt water deliveries to minimise ecological harm. Decision-making processes and outcome of water deliveries in the 2024-25 year under operational rules and scientific guidance is provided as a case study.
Speaker: Lydia Drake
