I try never to talk about clearing weeds, only about replacing weeds.
Planting (a great favourite with the general public) is one possibility but
there is recent research suggesting that in many circumstances just removing
weeds is sufficient, because it will lead to natural regeneration.
Of course there is evidence that in some locations invasive environmental
weeds (IEW), such as lantana, are great habitat or food sources.
In some instances, for example where Blackberry provides the only nest sites
for Fairy-wrens, it is good to provide alternative planted habitat as part
of staged replacement.
I think retention should be encouraged only where the affected species are
threatened (on some important scale) and there is a clear policy for
managing the weed (often including removing fruit, especially where it is
likely to be dispersed by birds, foxes...). The recent article on Camphor
Laurel in Australian Field Ornithology was interesting about a downside of a
particular IEW. It can, see the archives, attract rare birds but the
article suggests they may be poisoned by eating the fruit.
All that said, I have planted Tree Lucerne in my back yard for the
honeyeaters!
Michael Norris
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