And what a place we have to explore! Australia is home to some of the most remote, pristine and beautiful places on the planet.
But while we have a strong ethos of ‘treading lightly’ when out in the bush, it’s all-too-easy to unwittingly spread weeds and diseases that can kill wildlife and destroy wild places.
Leave hitch-hikers behind!
Weeds, pests and diseases are major threats to Australia’s native plants and animals.
They can hitch a ride on muddy hiking boots, in wet fishing gear or even hidden on the dirty rims of your car.
Our biggest threats
- Chytrid is a fungal disease blamed for frog extinctions both here and overseas.
- Phytophthora is a root rot that destroys native plants. It is spread in mud and soil on walkers’ boots, bikes and vehicles.
- Didymo, also known as ‘rock snot’, has not yet made it to Australia but can be transported on wet fishing gear. It has devastated riverbeds in New Zealand.
- Weeds radically alter natural ecosystems, smothering and outcompeting native plants, robbing wildlife of food and shelter.
