HB 294:2006

1 Introduction 1.1 What is risk management? 1.2 Why have a National Post-Border Weed Risk Management Protocol? 1.3 Scope 1.4 Applications 1.5 Definitions2 Weed risk management overview3 Communicate and consult4 Stage 1 - Establish the weed risk management context 4.1 What is the goal? 4.2 What is the geographic and land use scope? 4.3 Who are the stakeholders? 4.4 What is the policy and legislative framework? 4.5 What resources are available? 4.6 What are the outcomes and outputs sought? 4.7 Which weed risk and feasibility analysis systems to use? 4.8 Project management5 Stage 2 - Identify weed risk candidates 5.1 Collate existing weed lists 5.2 Detect new weeds present and confirm their identities 5.3 Review likely weed incursions 5.4 Select species for further analysis6 Stage 3 - Analyse and evaluate weed risks 6.1 Identify existing weed controls 6.2 Invasiveness criterion 6.3 Impacts criterion 6.4 Potential Distribution criterion 6.5 Calculate weed risk score 6.6 Risk evaluation7 Stage 4 - Analyse and evaluate feasibility of coordinated control 7.1 Identify required weed controls 7.2 Current Distribution criterion 7.3 Control Costs criterion 7.4 Duration criterion 7.5 Calculate feasibility of coordinated control score 7.6 Feasibility evaluation8 Stage 5 - Determine weed management priorities 8.1 Compare weed risk versus feasibility of coordinated control 8.2 Identify priority species for management9 Stage 6 - Implement weed management actions10 Monitor and review the process 10.1 Record the weed risk management process11 Considering utility of species12 ReferencesAPPENDICES A Post-border weed risk analysis and feasibility of coordinated control systems in Australia and New Zealand B Key sources of information for weed risk assessment C Example weed risk and feasibility of coordinated control analyses

This Handbook has been developed to foster the use and further development of decision support systems for prioritising weed species for management at the regional, state/territory and national levels. It is based on current best practice in weed management science, in combination with the principles of AS/NZS4360:2004, Risk management; and HB203:2006, Environmental risk management - Principles and process.

This Protocol provides a generic guide to the development of a post-border WRM decision framework, including the key criteria that should be considered in assessing and comparing:weed risks posed by different plant species; andthe feasibility of managing these species through coordinated control programs.

First published as HB 294:2006.