Dear Stakeholders,
Welcome to our October newsletter.
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The third National Stakeholder Forum was held virtually on Tuesday, 27 October 2020. Thank you to our guest presenters and all those who joined us, around 80 people attended. The forum provided an opportunity to present our progress with the Action Plan’s development, including its themes, goals and objectives. We are continuing to refine the structure and content of the Plan and are expecting to have it ready for stakeholder consultation in the coming weeks. To all those who missed the forum, presentations given on the day will be made available this week via the NFPAP website (under the Resources page). |
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An update of the NFPAP survey outcomes was provided, summarising the hundreds of responses received. The full report is currently being finalised. Recurring themes amongst respondents were revealed, with some of the key messages including:
- Land managers stressed that sustainable funding is something that the NFPAP needs to deliver.
- Over two-thirds (69 per cent) of all land managers want to see a significant reduction, or eradication, of the feral pig population.
- Only 14% of land managers stated that impact reduction motivates them to work with others to control feral pigs.
- Coordinated, regional programs to educate and empower land managers are needed - 49 per cent of land managers suggested that working together in coordinated and facilitated control programs at the local/regional level is the best solution to manage feral pigs.
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A brief virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our new Information Hub that is currently being finalised was provided. The Hub aims to demonstrate the many on-ground feral pig management programs underway around Australia by community and biosecurity groups, indigenous rangers and communities, and local and state agencies. Details of funded R&D programs are also being included. All information to be included on the Hub will be provided to each group for approval prior to going live on the NFPAP website.
We expect to complete this in the coming month. We also welcome ongoing contributions to the Hub. This can be done by contacting the NFPAP team here.
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Greg Mifsud – National Wild Dog Action Plan
Greg Mifsud, the National Wild Dog Management Coordinator, providing insights and key learnings from the National Wild Dog Action Plan (NWDAP) that may be applicable for feral pigs. Gaining trust and building relationships between land managers,
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stakeholders and government to support the implementation of the NWDAP has led to significant actions on the ground to reduce impacts caused by wild dogs, with many local management groups being formed. These groups apply best-practice management methods using the most effective tools and technologies at a regional level, regardless of land ownership – many of which now cover feral pigs and other vertebrate pests. This provides opportunities for us to work more closely together moving forward.
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Darren Marshall – General Manager, SQ Landscapes
Darren Marshall, from SQ Landscapes and a NFPAP Steering Group member, gave a terrifically engaging presentation on his field work with groups of land managers. Darren explained the power behind surveillance technologies in helping land managers better understand the ecology and behaviour of feral pigs in their local area. Information from these technologies is used by Darren to show his groups where and when pigs move within their region, and where best to set up traps based on seasonal variation of pig home range tendencies. This knowledge is being applied by land managers to initiate targeted and highly coordinated management of feral pig populations.
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Darren also shared his first-hand experience around feral pig impact reduction and population suppression, revealing that over 75 per cent of a feral pig population per year (over several years) requires dispatching for that population to be considered ‘managed’. If only 50 per cent of the population is taken out, then numbers will be replenished within the same year due to their capacity for population growth (refer to the Figure below from Darren's presentation). This 75 per cent goal can be very difficult to achieve, particularly when the population densities of pigs in the landscape are not well known.
Overall, Darren emphasised that trust between all stakeholders is needed so that everyone can work effectively together in achieving practical outcomes.
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Peter West – DPI NSW
DPI NSW Invasive Species Officer (Engagement) and National Coordinator – FeralScan, Peter West, manages the national FeralScan program to help communities monitor and manage pest species. Peter provided valuable insights into the capabilities of the FeralPigScan system and busted a few myths along the way, particularly those around data management and access.
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Many land managers are sensitive to how FeralPigScan data is managed.
Peter advised that:
- Each user is able to regulate their own data privacy settings to prevent their data from being publicly viewable.
- Private groups can also be established, with membership on an invite-only basis.
- Stakeholders are invited to provide input into how the FeralPigScan system can be updated or amended to enhance its usefulness
- Maps for prioritising areas for local control and to link people into networks, funding and resources can be developed in the system.
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Calling all Photographers!
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Can you help us? Due to COVID-19, it has not been possible to get out in the field, let alone meet face to face with many of you.
If you have photos of feral pigs in the landscape and/or their impacts that you are happy for us to use in our presentations and media, please get in touch at contact@feralpigs.com.au. We will then send you an individual link to the cloud for uploading the files. Full acknowledgement will be given to the photographer/organisation whenever these photos are utilised.
Note: Trophy photos are not suitable to the purpose of the media and communications we are presently developing.
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- The National Biosecurity Forum is being held from 9-12 November. For more information, click here. On Wednesday, 11 November, we are participating in a webinar commencing at 12 pm AEDT (Session 2: Community and industry engagement).
- The 33rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society will be held from 8-10 December 2020 via Zoom. To find out more click here.
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Kangaroo Island Feral Pig Eradication Program
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The Kangaroo Island (KI) Feral Pig Eradication Steering Committee has now been established and met for the first time on Thursday, 22 October 2020. This committee, chaired by Andrew Heinrich, Chair KI Landscape Board, and supported by Matt Korcz from PIRSA, will oversee the program. I am pleased to be contributing to this program as member of the Steering Committee.
The recent 2019/20 summer bushfires decimated most of the feral pig population, estimated to be around 5000 pigs, and aggregated the remaining pigs in small unburnt areas, where there is limited feed. This presents a unique opportunity to eradicate feral pigs. A three-year program has recently commenced with support from the South Australian and Australian Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The program will be delivered as a partnership between PIRSA, the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, land managers, and other stakeholders.
For more information on this program, please contact PIRSA. |
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For further information or to get in touch, please use the contact details below:
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