Introduction to IVMP

The Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) is a collaborative research project being conducted in Australia from December 2007 until December 2010. Drawing on current knowledge and practice, both nationally and internationally, the IVMP will evaluate and confirm best practice methods in resolving specific issues with managing mown vegetation in Australia.

An overall increase in environmental knowledge and regulation, coupled with an ever increasing focus on safety, has prompted the implementation of current vegetation management methods that are responsive but often prohibitively costly. These current practices are not sustainable. Mown vegetation management is costly, dangerous and needs to be repeated often. Mowing also results in significant weed seed dispersal issues driving up ongoing management costs.

Difficult to man	age situations

A need for greater knowledge about the effective management of mown vegetation, concerns about the potential off-target effects of chemicals and an understanding of the economic benefits of stabilising desirable plant communities, has prompted the decision to undertake this work.

Trial work is being conducted in Queensland and New South Wales by research scientists from Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Valencia Ecosystems. Funding has been committed by Technigro, Brisbane City Council and Gold Coast City Council with Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL) matching voluntary funding contributions on a dollar for dollar basis. With in kind support from industry partners Bayer Environmental Science and Syngenta Crop Protection, the total project value is in excess of $800,000.

The overriding strategic aim of the IVMP is the sustainable management of all classifications of mown vegetation and the improvement of undesirable 'weedy' species composition to that of a desirable, more manageable species composition. The expected benefits include a more economical and sustainable mown vegetation management model.

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