Biodiversity benefits in priority locations
French Island is home to rich and diverse native flora and fauna. This project will develop and implement a strategic weed control program which will protect and enhance important habitat and flora species including Dry Forest and Woodland, Wetland and Waterbodies, Heathland, Saltmarsh and Mangrove and Coastal ecosystems. Priority weeds on FI include pine wildings (pinaster and radiata), disa, polygala and box thorn.
This project has utilised Strategic Management Prospects (SMP) modelling to consider latest science and cost-benefit effectiveness aiming to maximise and enhance biodiversity benefits of the project within the landscape. French Island National Park is a priority location for controlling weeds under Protecting Victoria’s Environment- Biodiversity 2037 (Bio2037), with a cost-benefit ranking in the top 5 & 20% for action across the whole state.
This project has been identified as a high priority under the Western Port and South-East Melbourne Conservation Action Plan.
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Native Vegetation |
| Other Themes: | Waterways, Wetlands, Native Animals, Coasts, Estuaries |
| Primary Local Area: | Bass Coast, South Gippsland & islands |
| Other Local Areas: | Western Port |
| Project location: | Priority locations in French Island National Park |
| Scale of the project: | Landscape |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Parks Victoria |
| Key partners: | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), French Island Landcare |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 10+ years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | French Island National Park is 11,100 hectares (all a priority location) and has the ability to contribute to the RCS target of sustained weed control achieved for at least 40,000 hectares in priority areas of this region from 2017 to 2027. |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Undertake weed or pest herbivore control to maintain and enhance vegetation quality in priority areas |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Ramsar – Western Port Ramsar site – Ecological character maintained or improved Priority species – Eastern Curlew, Orange-bellied Parrot and/or Hooded Plover – Trajectory improved Priority species – Eastern Barred Bandicoot – Trajectory improved |
More information
Western Port and South-east Melbourne Conservation Action Plan
https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/working-together-for-biodiversity
