Latrobe Catchment Integrated
Pest Plant and Animal Initiative

A joint, landscape-wide approach, with regular and timely pest control is critical to safeguarding our agricultural systems, landscapes and protecting native plants and animals.

Pest plants and animals threaten diverse environmental and agricultural assets across the Latrobe Catchment Landcare region, and present significant problems for public and private landholders. Because pests readily cross property boundaries and quickly establish new populations, they are a costly and ongoing land management challenge for our region. Limited land manager time and resources, gaps in regional information networks, an ageing population, and increases in subdivisions hamper effective control, and a changing climate and extreme weather events further exacerbate the spread and establishment of pest plants and animals.

This project aims to build our region’s capacity to proactively manage priority regional pests in a coordinated and integrated way, leading to improved management outcomes, cost efficiencies, and ultimately greater protection of our communities, landscapes and native species.

Working closely with Agriculture Victoria, local councils, and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network will bring together government, industry and community organisations at a regional Forum to share perspectives, experiences and challenges, and help guide the development of Latrobe Catchment’s first Integrated Pest Plant and Animal Management Strategy. The Forum and Strategy will:

  • Map who is investing in pest management and where

  • Increase awareness and understanding of priority pest plants and animals as well as key management initiatives across the region

  • Identify critical challenges/barriers/gaps to effective regional control of priority pests

  • Identify lead agents and key next actions 

  • Outline critical engagement and information needs for our region

  • Identify future investment and partnerships to achieve better pest management 

Everyone has a role to play.

We recently asked our LCLN network groups which plants and animals were causing problems in their areas. Of 13 groups, 85% rated blackberry and 77% rated rabbits as pests of concern for 2024.

Singular mentions also went to:
Plants: Pampas grass, Great mullein, Patterson’s curse, Bridal creeper, Broom, Maple
Animals: Varroa mite, European wasps, Starlings, pigs

*Sweet Pittosporum is native to some areas in our region, but is increasingly invading bushland areas and forming dense mono-stands.

Project photo courtesy © David Cummings.

The 2024 Latrobe Integrated Priority Pest Plant and Animal Initiative is supported by the Victorian Government through the Partnerships Against Pests Program.