|
A large number of introduced plant species have naturalised in Hawke's Bay. Many of these are considered weeds, but some cause serious harm to the environment or economic loss to producers. These serious weeds are called 'plant pests' and are subject to control under the Regional Plant Pest Management Strategy developed by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, with community input to meet the requirements of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
The Strategy's objectives are to
- reduce the density and extent of plant pests,
- increase awareness of the public of the need to recognise and control these pests and
- ensure that plant pests listed in the strategy are not imported into the region, sold or distributed.
Different pests warrant different levels of control so they are grouped into several categories:
- Total Control Plant Pests
- Containment Control Plant Pests
- Regional Surveillance Plant Pests
All plant pests are banned from sale, propogation or distribution under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
What we can do for you
Biosecurity Plant Pest Officers from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council can help identify invasive, unusual or unwanted pests on your property.
Officers can also advise on the best methods of control of plant pests and can help formulate management plans. This might involve the use of biological controls, chemical spray control, or non-chemical controls such as stock management, pasture management and mechanical methods of pest removal.
What you can do
- Control all plant pests on your property
Destroy any plants shown in this web site that are on your property, and as they appear in future.
- Dispose of plant pests safely
The best way to dispose of unwanted plant pests is to burn, compost, or dispose of them at an approved landfill or transfer station for deep burial. Root fragments, cuttings and seed heads can rapidly establish new plant pest infestations if they are dumped in areas such as native bush, stream banks, and along roadsides. They are also dispersed by birds, animals, wind and water and in the right conditions grow quickly, smothering native vegetation.
- Prevent the spread of new plants
From time to time plants come into the region which quickly establish and can become plant pests.
If you find plants which are rapidly spreading out of control, report them to your Regional Council Biosecurity Plant Pest Officers so they can be identified. Make sure plants are prevented from spreading by destroying them before they form hard seeds. |