Environment

Environmental risk mitigation

Some invasive exotic pests have the potential to threaten native species, bringing permanent damage to our unique natural ecosystems. Others can reduce the social value of public amenities such as parks and gardens.

Unlike agricultural industries, environmental species have no obvious peak industry body to represent their needs or to contribute to a significant environmental pest or disease incursion. There is therefore an opportunity to engage with the diverse stakeholders base for environmental plant species to help identify biosecurity threats and priority actions to address these risks.

The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the Department of Agriculture has commissioned Plant Health Australia to develop risk mitigation plans for Australian acacia species, and mangroves and associated communities to begin to address these issues.

Despite the clear importance of Australian acacia species to our environment, culture and industry, there are currently no coordinated activities being undertaken specifically to protect acacias from biosecurity threats.

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Mangroves are at a heightened risk to exotic pests and diseases, as they frequently grow around ports and airports that process cargo and ships from all over the world.

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The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the Department of Agriculture has commissioned Plant Health Australia to develop an Environmental Risk Mitigation Plan for Australian Native Bees.

This project was undertaken to identify key biosecurity and pest risks for native bee populations and investigate mechanisms to mitigate against these risks.

The key objectives of this project were to:

  • better understand the biosecurity threats to Australian native bee populations
  • establish relationships and foster two-way dialogue with stakeholders of Australian native bees
  • increase awareness of biosecurity threats and improved biosecurity practice among stakeholders of native bees
  • identify activities and measures to improve biosecurity for Australian native bees appropriate for government action

The project engaged with stakeholders and experts on the native bees including the Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA), the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC), environmental groups, Indigenous groups, amateur bee enthusiasts and native bee groups and research groups to raise awareness of risks and the Australian biosecurity system, and to ensure that the current context for native bees in Australia is adequately considered in the development of the environmental risk mitigation plan. The Environmental Risk Mitigation Plan for Australian Native Bees will outline high-level biosecurity priorities and actions to protect native bee populations from biosecurity threats.