Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan 2020-2025 Vision: Reduce the impact of pest plants, animals and pathogens on Norfolk Island to protect and enhance the condition of our unique Island biodiversity. Front cover: Free roaming cat walking through a colony of nesting Sooty Terns (Image © Norfolk Island National Park) The Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2017 to 2027 (Invasive Plants and Animals Committee, 2016) was used as a guide to the format of the Norfolk Island Pest Plant and Animal Management Plan. Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan 2 Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 The purpose of the Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan ........................................................ 5 1.2 The impact of pest plants and animals and other pests on Norfolk Island ............................................................. 6 Environmental impacts ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Financial impacts .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Ecotourism potential ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Social impacts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Pest animals on Norfolk Island ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Rats ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Cats ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Feral chickens ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Red parrot (Crimson Rosella) ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Tarler Bird (Australasian Swamphen).................................................................................................................................... 9 Other introduced birds ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Army Grub ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Argentine Ants .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Asian House Gecko ............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Other pest animals .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 3. Weeds on Norfolk Island ................................................................................................................................................ 11 4. Pathogens, diseases and other pests ............................................................................................................................. 13 5. The Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan ......................................................................................... 14 5.1 Stages of pest plant and animal management ..................................................................................................... 14 5.2 Strategic Directions and Priorities ........................................................................................................................ 15 Strategic Direction 1 - Prevent the establishment of new pest plants and animals and other pests ......................... 15 Priority 1.1 Commit to and continuously strengthen pre border and border biosecurity......................................... 16 Priority 1.2 Improve early detection and response approaches for high risk pest plants and animals and other pests .......................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Strategic Direction 2 - Reduce the impacts of existing pest plants and animals and other pests ............................... 16 Priority 2.1 Develop and implement island wide coordination and implementation plans for high threat pest plants and animals and other pests. .................................................................................................................................... 16 Priority 2.2 Increase participation in coordinated management approaches across a range of land tenures .......... 17 Strategic Direction 3 - Improve leadership and coordination for the management of pest plants and animals and other pests. .................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Priority 3.1 Develop the knowledge, capacity and commitment of stakeholders to take responsibility for pest plants and animals and other pests ........................................................................................................................... 17 Priority 3.2 Improve information collection and sharing mechanisms to support effective pest plant and animal and other pest management ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Priority 3.3 Development of local extension capacity and capability through education and training ..................... 18 Strategic Direction 4 - Use best practice techniques and ensure value for money. .................................................... 18 Priority 4.1 Continue to develop and improve best practice management methods and increase overall adoption of these practices among all key stakeholders .......................................................................................................... 18 Priority 4.2 Trial techniques that are new to Norfolk Island to control pest plants and animals and other pests .... 19 Priority 4.3 Monitor the pest plant and animal management approach and identify and improve areas of weakness ................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan 3 6. Getting it done ............................................................................................................................................................... 20 7. Management Actions ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Management Actions - Strategic Direction 1: Preventing the establishment of new pest plants and animals and other pests .................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Management Actions - Strategic Direction 2: Reducing the impacts of existing pest plants and animals and other pests 25 Pest animals and other pests ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Pest Plants ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Management Actions - Strategic Direction 3: Improve leadership and coordination for more effective management of pest plants and animals and other pests ............................................................................................................................ 32 Management Actions - Strategic Direction 4: Using best practice techniques and ensuring value for money .................. 34 8. Measuring success ......................................................................................................................................................... 36 9. Budget ............................................................................................................................................................................ 40 Appendix A – Priority Pest Plants on Norfolk Island ................................................................................................................ 41 Appendix B – Introduced plant species on Norfolk Island ......................................................................................................