8.8 Example of a completed WEED-led project review

GENERAL INFORMATION
Project title: / Sounds Celastrus Eradication
Conservancy and Area: / Nelson/Marlborough, Sounds Area
Area(s) being treated: / There are four areas in the Sounds Area (Ponga Cove, CampBay, Manaroa, NW Bay). However, PongaCove & NWBay may need to be further divided as “new finds” have been made near these sites
Habitat type:
Contact person: / P
Project start and completion dates: / 1999 – Ongoing
Control year/s being reviewed: / 2004/05– 2007/08
Review date: / 30 June 2008
Review team: / U, V and W
Date of next review: / 2011
DOCDM and File ref:
Step 1: Review FEASIBILITY
Is the species likely to have significant impact on native species and ecosystems? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: Climbing spindleberry is an aggressive climber that smothers vegetation, tolerates a wide range of conditions, is spread by birds, and is hard to kill.
Are acceptable effective control methods available ( even at low densities)? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: Cut and spray with Glysophate (50/50) in a hand held bottle.
Is there low possibility of re-invasion? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: All known sites have been treated.
Do you know full extent of infestation/s:- Is another delimiting survey required? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: Surveys around known sites and surveillance in the district suggest that there is few/if any unknown sites.
Is distribution of the species limited enough for the project to be feasible? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: Currently there are few known sites in Marlborough/Sounds
Are all affected land-owners expected to agree to the control? / Original: Yes
Revised: Yes / Explanation: All have agreed so far and no problems are foreseen. Total control species under the MDC RPMS.
Step 2: Review PRACTICALITY
Practicality score / Original: 9
Revised: 8 / Explanation: Eradication is achievable and cheap due to the limited number and size of sites but is not expected within 5 years.
Aim of project: / Eradication
Expected timescale of project: / Aim to eradicate all known spindleberry in Sounds Area by 2015
Geographic level: / Sounds Area. Motueka and Golden Bay Areas of the Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy also have eradication programmes.
Step 3: Review MONITORING
Are the monitoring methods appropriate for achieving the monitoring objectives? / The number of individual plants controlled/visit, survey effort (around site), and control effort are recorded. Though new finds near old sites need to be differentiated.
Have monitoring results been successfully incorporated into weed control operations? / Yes. Monitoring (presence/absence) is used to direct treatment.
Do monitoring results indicate that the control project is achieving what it set out to achieve? / Yes. Monitoring results indicated that eradication is feasible
Step 4: Review CONTROL METHODS
Has planned work been achieved: / Mostly, however the Ponga Cove site was not treated in 07/08.
Has the weed population been reduced: / Yes (see appendix 1).
Are there alternative methods to consider: / Motueka Area has found Grazon (at label rates) to be very effective when vines are allowed to grow a couple of metres high with foliage
Step 5: Review NON-TARGET EFFECTS
Has non-target species impact been as expected: / Yes. Cutting and spraying results in no non-target impacts.
Have the appropriate steps been taken to minimise risk: / Yes.
What changes should be made: / None
Step 6: Review COSTING
Are funds adequate, insufficient or excessive to meet operational costs?
Funding is insufficient and should be reviewed.
Step 7: Review OTHER ISSUES
Not all work was carried out due to weather and other constraints. In future the Sounds weed programme should be rescheduled to ensure that high priority weed led work is carried out.
Step 8: Provide RECOMMENDATIONS
The control project is working well. Still, reworking monitoring data, reviewing project costs and reprioritising the work programme to ensure high priority weed-led work is carried out annually is needed.
Overall Recommended action / Provide a summary of updated monitoring data in the 07/08 report.
Review project costs and seek further RPMS funding if required.
Reprioritise the Sounds work programme to ensure high priority weed-led work is carried out annually
Update technical specifications
Checklist: remember to... / Done / N/A
Make appropriate changes to the Tech Specs: / √
Add new information to the BioWeb/Weeds Database: / √
Provide a copy of this review to your TSO: / √
Release review to interested parties: / √
Update the Monitoring spreadsheet: / √
Add this review to the: Review spreadsheet. / √

Authorisation Signatory:

Area ManagerDate

ConservatorDate

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