2019

Inkweed Eradication - Phytolacca octandra L.

Inkweed has been found on King Island around Fraser Road, North Pegarah and Pegarah Forest. This is a NEW INCURSION on King Island, the only known location in Tasmania.

The King Island Natural Resource Management Group has funding to start an Inkweed control program to eradicate this weed from King Island. 
We need your help - If you have seen this weed and know of its location, please contact us ASAP. This weed can rapidly become an environmental and agricultural problem so we need to act NOW!

Please call Eve Woolmore: 0447805286 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More information about this weed:

• Inkweed is a short lived perennial, woody-based, hairless herb to 2 m high and sometimes tinged with red.
• Native to tropical America, Inkweed is now a weed of roadsides, creek lines, poorly-managed pastures and waste land where it is readily spread by birds.
• It flowers mainly in spring and summer.
• It contains a number of toxic compounds.
• Has a flush of germination in spring and summer.
• Flowers mainly November to May in SE Australia.
• Reproduction: mainly by seed. It will re shoot from the base.
• Short lived perennial surviving 2-3 years.
• Toxicity: It contains a number of toxic compounds. In WA numerous cases of poisoning of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs have been reported. It is suspected of poisoning cattle, fowls and pigs in eastern Australia but the evidence is circumstantial. Overseas a few fatal cases of children eating the berries have been recorded. There is some confusion over the general toxicity.

2010 and On-going

King Island Cat Control  - The long-term aim is to eradicate feral cats from the island. Further progress is dependent on cooperative projects with King Island Council and the Tasmanian Government.
Downloads available: 
King Island Cat Management Plan 2008 – 2013
King Island Cat Control Program 2010

2006 to 2007

King Island Cat Control Project
Funded by WWF and Threatened Species Network, to protect from cat predation the Orange-bellied Parrots when they come to rest here during their migration. 

2003 to 2007

Environmental Management Systems Pilot Program
Working with farmers to identify and address environmental issues.
One of 18 national pilot projects funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, Australia wide and the only one in Tasmania.
Sixteen farms participate in the program with farm mapping, risk assessment and the development of an environmental management plan.
Consolidation of project in 2006/07 through monitoring and evaluation, benchmarking, external reviews and developing continuous improvement cycles. More Information...

2004

Threatened Birds Recovery
A project funded by the Threatened Species Network, to: determine the extent of vulnerable to critically endangered birds, and to address their habitat needs; to raise awareness in the community about King Island's threatened bird species; collate data of bird sightings and encourage Green Rosellas to breed, through volunteers setting up and regularly checking nest boxes. More Information...

2000 to 2003

Devolved Grant - included fencing, re-vegetation and direct seeding, and waterway protection, the development of several strategies and the publication of a number of books and reports. A community group worked intensely for over a year on the publication of ‘King Island Flora: a field guide’. A revolving fund was set up to protect valuable ecosystems on the island through buying properties, covenanting and re-selling, this is ongoing run by Tasmanian Land Conservancy.