'They are "natives", so they are OK! Weedy wattles in Canberra'
21 Sep, 2018
Sarah Sharp & Geoff Butler have drawn attention to the fact that the ACT, as do the other Australian states and territories, has a formal list of Declared Pest Plants. They point out, however, that '...there are many other introduced "weeds" that occur in the ACT. While most of these species originate from other countries, there are some Australian wattle species alien to the ACT that have become naturalised (an exotic or non-local native plant that can reproduce and sustain itself without human assistance)'. This article lists and evaluates the status of these 'weedy wattles', and draws attention to how they should be managed. This is an important and potentially challenging issue for Landcare groups: should we propagate and plant only species indigenous to our local areas, or is it OK to plant species native to other parts of Australia? Are some of the latter species, by definition, weeds, and should be managed as such?