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Pressures on the World Heritage Area -
Pond Apple
 Pond
apple (Annona glabra) is a major environmental weed of the
Wet Tropics bioregion of north Queensland and is designated as a
Weed of National Significance (WONS). This small tree forms dense
stands particularly in swamp areas. It prefers the silty alluvial
soils of coastal flood plains and is primarily dispersed by water,
especially when it floods. Disturbed flood prone ecosystems are
the most at risk from pond apple invasion and it represents a very
significant threat to many lowland riparian vegetation communities
in the Wet Tropics. The seed of the pond apple tree can lie dormant
for up to two years and still germinate, increasing its opportunity
to spread.
In 2001 the Wet Tropics Management Authority received
funding from the Natural Heritage Trust through the WONS program.
Ian Holloway was commissioned as a consultant by the Authority to
research pond apple in the Wet Tropics.
The aims of the project were to:
- Identify and map the
known infestations, and predict areas most at risk from further
invasion.
- Identify areas of high
priority for control.
- Conduct adaptive management
trials.
- Undertake a community awareness and education
program.
The project report 'Adaptive Management:
Pond Apple Control In the Catchments of
the Russell-Mulgrave and Tully-Murray River Systems' is available below.
Download:
Pond Apple Report [695KB]
Pond Apple pictures [932KB]
Map 2 - Index to Maps [487KB]
Map 3 - Mossman [959KB]
Map 4 - Cairns North [929KB]
Map 5 - Cairns West [1,065KB]
Map 6 - Cairns [1,141KB]
Map 7 - Innisfail [1.307KB]
Map 8 - Silkwood [1,396KB]
Map 9 - Tully West [1,294KB]
Map 10 - Tully South [1,445KB]
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