@dubh When it's done right, people can make a huge difference to NZ's environment by spotting emergent weeds as they're beginning to establish.

My favourite recent example is Dave Holland's discovery in 2020 of wild black swallow-wort on the edge of the Timaru Botanic Gardens. That was the first wild record of the species anywhere in NZ, and it's a wetland weed overseas. Timaru Council and Environment Canterbury staff stepped in with control, over several years, and now it's gone.

That's one environmental weed nipped in the bud before it could get started.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/65849739

#weeds #BiologicalInvasions #InvasivePlants #eradication #ParticipatoryScience #WeedSurveillance