Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018C00160:reg:2008:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018C00160
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2008 (pt 9/19)
Character Range: 26329–30224

private or leasehold lands within or adjacent to priority sites identified in Action 2.1.

    Objective 3

Improve knowledge and understanding of unmanaged goat impacts and interactions with other species and other ecological processes

Key actions for Objective 3 include developing simple, cost-effective methods for monitoring impacts; improving knowledge of interactions between unmanaged goats and key native species, and between unmanaged goats, livestock, rabbits, macropods and wild dogs; and identifying unintended effects of controlling unmanaged goats in isolation from other activities. Actions 3.1–3.4 focus on ensuring that goat control programs do not lead to unintended impacts, and that control activities are targeted strategically through better understanding of the impacts of unmanaged goats and their interactions with other species. These actions are mainly of high to very high priority, and most should be achieved in the short to medium term.

To determine the effectiveness of goat control programs, Action 3.1 is to develop simple, cost-effective methods for monitoring the impact of this invasive species on affected species and ecological processes (e.g. nutrient cycles and fire regimes) relative to other sources of impact, such as wild rabbits and domestic livestock. Monitoring methods need to be reliable for different densities of both unmanaged goats and the native species they affect through competition and land degradation. Areas for investigation include the feasibility and practicality of individual identification of unmanaged goats by genotyping scats or hairs, to help estimate abundance, particularly at low densities.

Interactions between unmanaged goats and other species need to be considered when undertaking control programs. Action 3.2 is to investigate interactions between goats, livestock, rabbits, macropods and wild dogs. This will help determine optimal approaches to integrated management of these species in the rangelands. For example, certain fences used to contain goats can also exclude wild dogs. Action 3.3 is to identify any unintended effects that controlling unmanaged goats may have if it is not integrated with other management activities, such as weed outbreaks or increases in other grazers.

One of the most important actions is Action 3.4, which is to establish the relationship between density of unmanaged goats and damage and benefits in different ecosystems.

Performance indicators

   Reliable monitoring techniques have been developed for unmanaged goats.
   Control of unmanaged goats is better integrated with control of other vertebrate pests.
   The unintended effects of programs to control unmanaged goats are minimised.

Action                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Priority and timeframe

3.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                High priority, short term
Develop simple and cost-effective methods for assessing and monitoring the impact of unmanaged goats relative to other sources of impact, including reliable methods for monitoring their numbers and their effects at different densities on key native species.

3.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                High priority, medium to long term
Investigate interactions between unmanaged goats,