Following on from the comments on introductions emanating from the Magpie
Pica pica thread I wanted to comment on Chris Sanderson's email. Having
just finished two days and nights of fieldwork at Yamba, north coast NSW I
can't but agree with Chris' inclusion of 'any local nursery' as a threat to
biodiversity (and bird habitat). A wonderful remnant of bushland which had
a very rare threatened plant and two threatened mammal and one threatened
bird species was infested with weeds. These included Umbrella Tree (a
native of North Queensland), Lantana, Evening Jesamine (Murraya), Winter
Senna (Cassia), Purple Morning Glory, Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna serrulata)
etc, etc. as well as the usual annual herbs and introduced grasses. The
introduction of any foreign plant into this country needs to be considered
very carefully (and then banned!!) and nurseries should be prohibited from
selling potential weeds (which includes nearly every introduced species and
many non-local natives). Just because a plant isn't a pest now doesn't mean
that it won't be in 10 years time. There are 'sleeper' plants out there
waiting to explode into the natural environment. For those who want more
details read Tim Lowe's 'Feral Future'.
Greg Clancy
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