Environmental weeds

Environmental weeds are plants that invade native ecosystems and adversely affect the survival of indigenous flora and fauna.

Environmental weeds can be foreign plants accidentially or intentionally introduced into Australia, or they can be native plants that have become weedy due to inappropriate management, or because they are outside of their normal range.

Environmental weeds may have significant economic and social impacts, as well as environmental impacts, including: 

• reduction of biodiversity
• cost of control
• loss of ecotourism opportunities
• impacts on recreational activities
• impacts on landscape
• degradation of water quality
• increased risk of fire.

Some environmental weeds, such as rubber vine and Singapore daisy, are declared pest plants under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Whether the species is declared under legislation is irrelevant - it is the damage it is doing to the native environment that defines it as an environmental weed.

Many environmental weeds were originally introduced as garden ornamentals. Introduced plants that are climatically suited to their new environment can thrive and out-compete native species because of the absence of natural diseases, insects and pests. 

As the majority of environmental weeds are not listed under their species names on herbicide registration, an off-label permit has been approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to assist the department, local government and environmental groups manage these pest plants.

Further information

• South East Queensland Environmental Weeds Strategy (PDF, 421 kB)
• Extracts from 'Assessment of invasive naturalised plants in South East Queensland' (PDF, 66 kB)
• 'Declared plants of Queensland' fact sheet (PDF, 73 kB)
• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) website
• Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002