2021 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series

The series of seven monthly webinars and discussions will focus on the recently released National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases (EEPL) and explore the list’s purpose, its development and how it will help manage risks to Australia’s biosecurity. Each webinar will welcome three guest speakers presenting in the first hour, followed by 30 minutes of facilitated discussion.

• A weakness in one is a vulnerability to all. 15 April 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Connecting the EEPL to the people. All about the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases. 13 May 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Where there’s a path, there’s a way. An overview of pest entry pathways. 3 June 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Pests & ecosystems. Exploring risks to forests and parklands. 15 July 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Pests & ecosystems. Exploring risks to marine and freshwater environments. 5 August 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Pests & ecosystems. Exploring risks to wildlife in their environments. 2 September 2:00-3:30pm (AEST)
• Opening the toolbox. Tools and technology for detection, control and eradication. 7 October 2:00-3:30pm (AEDT)
• National Environmental Biosecurity Forum. TBA November

Background

In late 2020, the CSIRO report, Australia’s Biosecurity Future delivered a timely reminder that biosecurity matters now more than ever before. Released in the midst of the worst pandemic seen in over 100 years, the report highlighted the growing burden to Australia’s biosecurity system from new and existing threats to human, plant, animal and environmental health.

The title of the first webinar in this series ‘A weakness in one is a vulnerability for all’ is a line taken directly from the report and reinforces the value of environmental biosecurity to a strong biosecurity system. Whether it be plant, animal, human, or environmental biosecurity, everything is connected. An incursion in one part of the system will have flow-on effects to our health, amenity, culture and economy. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s purpose, objectives and priorities statement released last year reflects the significance of these relationships, connecting biosecurity with protecting our way of life.

In comparison to the exotic pests of production plants and animals, our understanding of threats to our environment are still limited. The release of the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases (EEPL) will deliver on these objectives and will help strengthen our knowledge of exotic pests, weeds and diseases that pose the highest risk to our environment, public spaces, heritage and way of life. The list will be used to enable and prioritise activities that help prevent their entry, establishment and spread.

In this series we will discover

• Why a well-connected and collaborative biosecurity system is crucial to success.
• How and why the EEPL was developed and how it will help identify and manage the risk of exotic pests, weeds and diseases entering or establishing in Australia.
• What are pathways? What’s a hitchhiker? And, how do we know where to look?
• Which environmental pests, weeds and diseases are of most concern and what could they affect?
• More about some of the species identified in the EEPL as ‘most unwanted’.

Following the last webinar in October, we are planning to hold a National Environmental Biosecurity Forum in early November 2021. Expressions of interest will be collected via the Eventbrite registration process and RSVPs will be collected at a later date.

It is important to note that the EEPL is focused on exotic (not established) pests, weeds and diseases that affect Australia’s environment and amenity. It complements existing pest lists and strategies in biosecurity. Other exotic pest lists include: the top 42 National Priority Plant Pests, the Australian Priority Marine Pest List and the National list of notifiable animal diseases.

For established pests there is the Australian Pest Animal Strategy, the Australian Weeds Strategy and the Weeds of National Significance.

Registration

To register your interest for the webinars, please go to eventbrite.com.au/e/knock-knock-whos-there-drawing-attention-to-our-most-unwanted-visitors-tickets-145807563347