Weed Spotters Network Queensland
About the program
Weed Spotters Network Queensland is a citizen science program that aims to detect new and emerging weed threats before they become established in Queensland.
The program is particularly focussed on sightings of species assessed as being of high risk to Queensland and listed as Prohibited or Restricted (Category 2,3,4,5) under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014.
Since 2006, our members have been providing images, data and specimens to the Queensland Herbarium for identification, data capture and mapping. So far, they have made more than 100 detections of high-risk target weeds.
There are more than 1800 Weed Spotters across Queensland.
The program is a collaboration between:
- the Queensland Herbarium
- Biosecurity Queensland
- local governments (with funding support from the Land Protection Fund)
- citizen scientists.
Why our work is important
Some invasive species are highly likely to cause significant impacts to the environment, agriculture, the economy and our way of life. Keeping these species out of Queensland and detecting new incursions early is the most effective way to reduce their impact.
Weed Spotters is an early detection system for emerging weed threats. Early detection is important as it is easier and less costly to eradicate an invasive species while the population is low and the area infested is small. Once an invasive species becomes established over a significant area, its population becomes highly resilient and difficult or impossible to eradicate.
The costs of managing the impacts increase as the population grows and spreads. Estimates of the annual cost of invasive plants to Queensland are around $600 million. No estimate has been made of the cost of weeds to the environment.
The Weed Spotters network of citizen scientists significantly boosts the surveillance capacity across the state, increasing the likelihood of early detection of high-risk weeds and the feasibility of successful eradication.
Role of citizen scientists
As a weed spotter you will:
- look out for high-risk target weeds in your region
- report suspected sightings by
- contacting Biosecurity Queensland online, by phone or in person
- contacting your regional coordinator
- sending photos/specimens to the Queensland Herbarium for identification.
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Our members come from diverse backgrounds but share a common interest in weeds. They include:
- landholders
- land managers
- Landcare and Bushcare participants
- scientists
- regional natural resource management groups
- slasher drivers
- weed contractors
- gardeners
- Australian, state and local government officers
- industry representatives.
Join Weed Spotters
To join Weed Spotters Network Queensland, complete the application form.
Once you join, you will:
- be encouraged to complete online training in weed recognition and plant collecting techniques
- receive a monthly bulletin
- be invited to in-person training events in your local area
- be supported by your regional coordinator.
Other participants
Regional coordinators:
- help to identify and filter weed spotters' specimens
- pass specimens on to the Queensland Herbarium
- provide feedback to weed spotters in their region about new and emerging weeds
- help with training, resources and access to high-quality, reputable information.
Contact a Weed Spotters regional coordinator.
The Network Coordinator:
- provides training for weed spotters
- raises awareness of high-risk emerging weeds and helpful resources through
- a monthly bulletin
- media releases
- publications.
Contact the Weed Spotters Network Coordinator.
The Queensland Herbarium (part of the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation):
- identifies and verifies weed specimens
- incorporates some of them into the specimen collection
- maintains databases including WildNet
- notifies Biosecurity Queensland and other government officers in the region of any
- new naturalisations or new occurrences of listed weeds
- potential new and emerging weed species.
- provides leadership and support for management of invasive plants and animals in Queensland
- develops policy and legislation about invasive species
- undertakes pest risk assessments
- conducts research on invasive species
- provides statewide coordination of pest programs
- prepares communication and education programs on invasive species.
Local governments:
- work in partnership with other agencies to implement their biosecurity plans
- share information on weeds in their local area
- provide funding support for Weed Spotters Network Queensland through the Land Protection Fund.
Weed Spotters bulletin
Weed Spotters receive a monthly bulletin.
It features information on current and emerging weeds, recent detections of prohibited or restricted weeds, and invitations to Weed Spotters workshops.
These are the most recent bulletins:
Resources
Online training
The online course Weed Spotters Network Queensland Training has been designed for our members and interested members of the public.
It will help you:
- understand how Queensland manages the biosecurity risk of invasive plants (weeds)
- learn more about high-risk weeds in Queensland and where they might occur
- understand your general biosecurity obligation for weeds
- identify high-risk weeds using key characteristics
- be an effective and informed member of our network
- confidently report a notifiable weed
- stay safe and minimise health risks and hazards while weed spotting.
Handbook
The Weed Spotters Handbook has all the information you need to start spotting weeds in your region.
It includes:
- when to look for weeds
- where to look for weeds
- weed hygiene
- safety when Weed Spotting
- a field collection checklist
- how to collect and press plant specimens.
Weed identification resources
Visit the identifying weeds page for links to online tools, publications and apps to help you identify weeds.
If you suspect you have found a prohibited or restricted weed,
- contact Biosecurity Queensland online, by phone or in person
- reach out to your regional coordinator
- send photos/specimens to the Queensland Herbarium.
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