Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are not just the rabbits, the cane toads, the cats and foxes – the common culprits. Let's not forget the small but impactful smooth newt or the fierce red fire ants, and the many invasive weeds. Twenty new weeds will establish in the wild in Australia this year – and every year to come … unless things change. But is it possible to stop this ongoing invasion? How do we go about it?Heartlands Conversations was presented as part of the Blue Mountain Music FestivalOriginal broadcast on May 16, 2024SpeakersCosta GeorgiadisHost of ABC TVs Gardening Australia and landscape architectAndrew CoxCEO of the Invasive Species CouncilGregg Borschmann (host)Writer, radio producer and oral historian for the National Library of Australia
Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are not just the rabbits, the cane toads, the cats and foxes – the common culprits. Let's not forget the small but impactful smooth newt or the fierce red fire ants, and the many invasive weeds. Twenty new weeds will establish in the wild in Australia this year – and every year to come … unless things change. But is it possible to stop this ongoing invasion? How do we go about it? Heartlands Conversations was presented as part of the Blue Mountain Music Festival Original broadcast on May 16, 2024 Speakers Costa Georgiadis Host of ABC TVs Gardening Australia and landscape architect Andrew Cox CEO of the Invasive Species Council Gregg Borschmann (host) Writer, radio producer and oral historian for the National Library of Australia