They destroy the environment they inhabit by smothering and killing native vegetation. Smothered trees often collapse into waterways resulting in a loss of habitat for both land and aquatic wildlife. They also have seeds and tubers that remain viable in the soil for over 10 years and spread readily through wind and water movement – making them efficient in their reproduction.
Hinterland Bush Links has been driving the Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine Project since 2013 (focusing on the headwaters and upper reaches) to eradicate the three highly invasive species of weed-vines – Cat’s claw creeper, Madeira vine and Dutchman’s pipe.
Left unchecked, these would spread throughout the region and progressively invade rainforests, causing irreversible damage.
This strategic work is restoring and protecting areas of rainforest by stopping these devastatingly noxious and fast-growing weeds from smothering the forest and killing the vegetation along riverbanks. In turn, this has protected water quality and enhanced habitat for animals including many threatened species.
The Mary Valley catchment is a biodiversity hotspot and supports the Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia which is listed as Critically Endangered. The region is home to an abundance of animals, including threatened and endangered species listed under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, such as the Mary River turtle, Oxleyan pygmy perch and the Giant barred frog.
This project is a $100k+/year project. We arrange professional contractors to carry out this on-ground work.
