Quentin Hart: 'Feral camels: a nationally significant pest animal requiring a national...

Reducing feral camel impacts across remote Australia:

Australian Feral Camel Management Project

21st November 2013, Parliament House Theatre, Canberra

Session One: From Science to Solution Speakers: Tom Calma, AO – Chair Ninti One Glenn Edwards – Northern Territory Government Quentin Hart – Ninti One, Australian Feral Camel Management Project Roger Smith – Chair Australian Feral Camel Management Project Steering Committee

Feral camels: a nationally-significant pest animal requiring a national management approach Quentin Hart

Nationally-significant pests

• Origins with first 20 Weeds of National Significance in 1999 (World-first) – selected from 3000 species!

• Selection based on invasiveness, current and potential spread and environmental, social and economic impacts

Established Pest Animals of National Significance (EPANS)

• Concept gained traction with Australian Pest Animal Strategy (2007)

• Key criteria: > ‘Established’ (not eradicable) > VPC assess that national coordination is required

Requirements for EPANS plans:

• Define pest animal problem • Outline management objectives/actions • Involve all stakeholders • Integrate plan with other NRM plans • Consider all management approaches,

training requirements, legislation • Promote coordinated action • Incorporate monitoring and evaluation

Feral camels as an EPANS candidate?

• 2008 DKCRC report provided the blueprint to address these requirements

• Because of this proactive work, feral camels were ‘first cab off the rank’

• A compelling case for nationally-coordinated action…

Feral camel attributes

• Established and growing>>

• Extremely mobile>>

• Low rate of reproduction

Feral camel attributes

• Good removal options>>

• Will amongst all land managers to do something

• A good information base

National Feral Camel Action Plan

• In 2010, the NRM Ministerial Council endorsed the National Feral Camel Action Plan as a national plan for an Established Pest of National Significance in accordance with the Australian Pest Animal Strategy.

NFCAP Objectives: • Develop Australian and international

understanding and support for humane management of feral camels

• Address feral camel impacts through immediate, substantial and sustained reduction in their numbers

• Establish a platform for the ongoing humane management of feral camels

• Develop partnerships and social capacities for feral camel management

AFCMP

• Not formally linked to NFCAP…but effectively the main resourced activity to date

• Has incidentally addressed most NFACP objectives/actions but ongoing work required

AFCMP: has demonstrated the potential of the nationally-coordinated approach to feral camel management…but is only the first step – sustained action required

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