Therefore, in order to address the possum problem, the department must determine which forests are at risk of canopy collapse and loss of biodiversity and prioritise resources to provide the greatest benefit for conservation. The legislation Section 5 of the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 gives the Department the authority to prepare wild animal control plans, outlining the strategic approach necessary for the effective control of introduced animals. Wild animal control plans also provide criteria for the identification of native plants, animals and natural communities most threatened by introduced animals, and enable managers to establish where, when and how much control should be carried out. Using the strategic planning framework provided by these plans, resource allocation decisions can be made in an open and transparent way. Wild animal control plans also outline how operational and performance monitoring must be carried out so that animal control operations can be monitored to ensure that they are effective and that there is an improvement in forest health.
People attach a range of different values to wild animals.
Some agree that wild animals are significant conservation pests, while others, however, see wild animals such as deer, pigs and goats as an important recreational and commercial resource. Wild animal control plans are developed in consultation with user groups and stakeholders. Within the constraints set by legislation, the department attempts to accommodate the interests of user groups while achieving conservation objectives. The aim of involving interest groups during the preparation of plans is to avoid future conflict and expensive litigation. The Department has prepared and implemented wild animal control plans for thar and possums.