VICTORIAN BLACKBERRY TASKFORCE

BLACKBERRY THE WEED

Blackberry the weed (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) is a serious issue across much of Victoria, and a serious concern for farmers, peri-urban land holders and public land managers.

Blackberry can severely decrease the productive capacity of land, alter water flow, lead to erosion problems and provide harbour for pest animals. In addition it can out-compete and displace native plant species and lead to a loss of biodiversity.

The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce was established in 2001 to work with Victorian communities and government agencies to provide a collaborative effort to control blackberry. Together, the Taskforce’s community partnership program covers over 280,000 hectares of public and private land infested by blackberry.

Our website hosts a source of information on blackberry, control measures and case studies, and how your community can work with the Taskforce to establish a community-led program. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our blog ‘blackberrytheweed’ for up-to-date information.

BLACKBERRY: THE PROBLEM

In 1851, the Government Botanist in Victoria, Baron von Mueller, and the first Curator of the Gardens at Melbourne University.

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WHAT WE DO

The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce was formed in 2001 as a result of community concern for blackberry.

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WHO WE ARE

In promoting collaborative arrangements, the Taskforce has representation from major government agencies involved in blackberry management, policy and research and development.

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OUR VALUES AND DIRECTION

A key guiding principal of the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce is the concept that blackberry control is more than science.

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Managing blackberry is long-term and generally cannot be achieved by one-off strategies, particularly for larger infestations. The three main management options available for blackberry include physical control, biological control and herbicides.

The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce is committed to working with communities and partner agencies to reduce the growth and spread of blackberry in Victoria. The Case Studies featured here demonstrate the determination of communities and individual landholders, in a range of circumstances, to find ways of tackling blackberry to reclaim and restore land.

SCIENCE & COMMUNITY TOGETHER

SCIENCE & COMMUNITY TOGETHER

VBT PROGRESS REPORT 2023

VBT PROGRESS REPORT 2023

EFFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

EFFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

PESTS PILOT PROJECT

PESTS PILOT PROJECT

VBT NEWS 13 – SEPT 2023

VBT NEWS 13 – SEPT 2023

BIOSECURITY AWARD

BIOSECURITY AWARD

Contacts

Contact the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce:

Victorian Blackberry Taskforce PO Box 536 Wodonga 3689

vbt@vicblackberrytaskforce.com.au

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