Managing Exotic Grasses in Native Grasslands
Project Overview
The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC), in partnership with Bush Heritage Australia, delivers the Midlands Conservation Partnership program. The vision of that program is to promote and facilitate the long-term community-based protection and management of threatened native grasslands and associated wetlands and woodlands in the Tasmanian Midlands.
The TLC is leading the Managing Exotic Grasses in Native Grasslands project which addresses the threatening encroachment of exotic perennial grasses in Tasmania’s critically endangered lowland native grasslands. In partnership with the University of Tasmania, the project will support a PhD research program to investigate the drivers of exotic grass invasion and trial targeted control methods. Findings will guide practical management recommendations for landholders, ensuring evidence-based actions to maintain biodiversity of lowland native grasslands.
Project Goals
- Understand ecological and management drivers of exotic perennial grass invasion.
- Identify and test effective control methods to reduce or prevent exotic grass cover increase.
Key Activities
- Recruitment of PhD candidate and supervision by UTAS and MCP staff.
- Co-design workshops with producers to refine on-ground trial methods.
- Establishment of exclusion cages, burning regimes, and grazing treatments.
- Data analysis and production of a decision-support tool.
- Communication of results through reports, workshops, academic publications, and producer networks.
