Pandaren Strikes

Pest plants need to be controlled to reduce their affect on the environment. When introduced to a new environment, any plant has the potential to become a pest. Gorse, Blackberry, Lantana and Woolly Nightshade are examples of plants that were introduced as ornamentals or heging plants but have become pests and the focus of large control programmes in New Zealand. All are major pests of the environment and can affect native bush as well as farmland.

Problems with plants are numerous. Some are incredibly quick growing and invasive like Wandering Jew and Woolly Nightshade. Some plants are difficult to control once they have established due to large seed banks in the soil like gorse. Some affect land use by establishing in pastures and excluding stock and humans by forming large prickly thickets, which is what gorse and blackberry do. Some are toxic to stock like ragwort. Some choke waterways and affect water quality like water hyacinth. All of these plants have been introduced to New Zealand and found the ideal climate to thrive and cause problems in agriculture, horticulture or conservation land.

Both manual and chemical methods can be used to control pest plants. These methods can be used on an individual basis or on mass. The most labour intensive but possibly most effective method is to pull out individual plants ensuring the removal of all the root system. Control of large plants tends to be by stump cutting, direct drilling or scarfing the tree first, then using chemicals to poison the tree and stop any further growth from the tree or stump. For large areas of pest plants they can sometimes be controlled by spraying and then slashing after the plant has died.

Plant Biosecurity is partly about preventing the spread both locally and nationally of pest plants. This is important within areas of high conservation importance. There are different levels of significance for pest plants. Some are listed as controlled with enforced actions. In New Zealand this is mainly looked after by the Regional and Local councils that create pest management strategies to give direction in how to control pest plants. Those of national significance are listed on the National Pest Plant Accord which is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Gorse is the source of several problems in the environment. The main problem is the mainly adverse affect the plant has on farm pasture. On a positive note the root system of the gorse plant does fix nitrogen which eventually is released back in to the soil and this is beneficial. It is quick growing and due to its spiny nature, it forms thickets that are impenetrable to stock and humans. It produces large numbers of seeds in seed pods which explode open, enhancing seed distribution. Seed may last 100 years in the soil before conditions become suitable for germination. Burning stimulates regrowth.

Blackberry is a very prickly, rambling vine. The problem with blackberry is that it has an extensive rhizome system which can be difficult to get rid of. While the top part of the plant may be removed, the problem still exists if the rhizomes are left in the ground. Dense thickets of blackberry of up to 2 metres tall can prevent stock and human access as well as providing refuges for other pests like possums and rabbits.

Woolly Nightshade is a highly invasive quick growing plant that can reach in excess of 5 metres tall. The trees form dense stands that prevent the growth of other plants in the area. They fruit prolifically and birds spread the seed very effectively and efficiently over large distances. It can quickly take over areas of forest margin, scrub, farm land, hill country, waterway margins and reserves if it is not controlled. The plant is thought to be toxic to stock and can affect humans.

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