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Strong seedlings help combat weeds in native forests

April 20, 2005

castillo.jpgA project aimed at boosting biodiversity and reducing weed invasion in a regional National Park has produced strong results, according to scientists from the University of New England.
Ben Villa-Castillo, a PhD student on an international exchange program, has driven the project with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The project’s aim is to identify effective means of accelerating natural succession in the eucalypt plantations following disturbance.
To do this, the project team planted more than 2,750 seedlings of 11 native species, including acacias and eucalypts, over an area of 2.5 hectares in Bongil Bongil National Park, just south of Coffs Harbour. In three months, 90 per cent of the seedlings have survived, a 30 per cent improvement on seedlings’ normal survival rate if left on their own, Mr Villa-Castillo said.
“We want to improve biodiversity, reduce weed invasion and promote native animal habitat values,” he said.
Mr Villa-Castillo attributed much of the seedlings’ success to the team’s planting efforts, the quality of seedlings and good weather conditions.
He will now monitor for a further year the seedlings’ progress before analysing his data and completing the project next year.
Mr Villa-Castillo told how introduced species, such as Paspalum grass and Lantana, were highly competitive in Australian forest areas and strangled the germination of native species.

“One of our goals is to know if planting native species can reduce or eliminate these weeds,” Mr Villa-Castillo said.
“But it’s not only planting, we have to also log and burn and protect seedlings using fences. Wallabies like the native seedlings.”
Mr Villa-Castillo has been sponsored by the Mexican Government to pursue his studies in Australia. He is a professional Forester with the Mexican Forestry Commission
“Eucalyptus species are becoming a major weed problem in Mexico. My studies in Coffs Harbour will hopefully benefit my abilities to manage native species regeneration in eucalypt plantations back home,” Mr Villa-Castillo said.
For more information phone Mr Villa-Castillo on 6773 3690 or
Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779

Posted by Lydia Roberts at April 20, 2005 12:29 PM