Economic issues in the management of plants invading natural environments: Scotch broom in Barrington Tops National Park

Abstract

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius, L.), is an exotic leguminous shrub, native to Europe, which invades pastoral and woodland ecosystems and adjoining river systems in cool, high rainfall regions of southeastern Australia. Broom has invaded 10,000 ha of eucalypt woodland in Barrington Tops National Park in New South Wales, and is having a major impact on the natural ecology of the sub-alpine environment. It is extremely competitive with the native flora, retarding their growth and in many areas blanketing the ground and preventing growth of many understorey species in open forest areas. A number of rare and endangered species are believed to be under threat from this invasion. An active program..