Sessional Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development Written Submissions Received Volume 2 Issues associated with the progressive entry into the Northern Territory of Cane Toads October 2003
Tabled Paper 1123
Tabled Papers for 9th Assembly 2001 - 2005; Tabled Papers; ParliamentNT
2003-10-16
Tabled by Delia Lawrie
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/307061
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/346011
WWF FROGS! Program Written Submissions Cane Toad Inquiry Report Volume 2 74 marinus) from the Northern Territory 2) Cane toad invasion no longer threatens aboriginal communities and ecosystems in NT, and region is technically and culturally resourced to effectively deal with any future invasion Purposes 1) Develop effective control and eradicate techniques and a comprehensive program to implement them 2) Use unfolding ecological disaster - the Cane toad invasion - as an educational opportunity for programs to demonstrate the need for sustainability in NT and possible ways to achieve this Timeframe July 2002-July 2004 Intended Results 1)To eradicate cane toads 2) Establish capacity (manpower, infrastructure, methodology) to prevent cane toads from re-entering NT 3) Create and maintain conservation education and information network Outcomes 1) Eradication of Cane toads 2)Trained and skilled workforce 3) proven strategy and techniques for cane toad eradication 4) Greater general awareness of conservation and sustainability issues 5) creation of communication networks 6) multiple effects at the political and policy levels The principal components of the proposed program are: Science and eradication Education, communications, awareness and training Activity Description Science and Eradication Core Strategy The program is assured of success if the following four conditions are met. It is therefore essential that we develop a system that will enable us to: 1. remove cane toads from defined and delineated areas much more rapidly than the toads can recolonise from outside the area; 2. effectively block the recolonisation of areas once they have been cleared of toads; 3. kill toads much faster that they can be replaced through reproduction; 4. prevent any further migration and population recruitment of toads into the Northern Territory from Queensland. Alberta Rat Control Model There are many parallels between the Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the Cane Toad (Bufo marinus). For example, both produce many offspring per year, easily establish feral populations, continuously expand their distributions, are ecologically and economically destructive, are carriers of human parasites and pathogens, and both are non-native problem species in Australia. With this in mind, Australians can take heart in the experience of Alberta, Canada, where it has been conclusively demonstrated that concerted control and eradication programs, for even these most problematical of species, can be effective and sustainable.