Bringing down Siam – the King of Weeds

By Steve Garrad

Green Corps workers recently teamed up with the Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF) as the month of May called landholders to arms in the fight against the prickly and intrusive Siam weed.

The team was targeting 59 hectares of diverse rainforest just east of El Arish that the ARF has recently acquired to provide a refuge for the endangered cassowary. This block has both endangered wetlands and rainforest with high conservation values.

The ARF is already working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to secure a Nature Refuge status on the land title but there is a lot of work to do to get the land up to a good conservation standard. We are fortunate and grateful to have the support and help of the Green Corp workers to help bring the land back to its pristine state.

Green Corps worker, Clinton Byrne, said that there is nothing as bad as Siam Weed for its toughness and rapid growth. 

“Once it gets on a property, there is major work ahead and continual vigilance well into the future for that land,” Clinton said.

Landowners on adjoining properties to the ARF block were also able to take advantage of the Green Corps willing workers and their weed spraying with lantana and wild bramble targeted on top of the Siam weed.

Further spraying days have been held  wit others planned and community members interested in volunteering a half day on the block should contact ARF Community Conservation Officer Steven Garrad on 0448 512 004.