Action 1.3: Eradicate yellow crazy ants from the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area

Yellow crazy ants are listed as one of the top 100 worst invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Global Invasive Species Database. They are a major threat to the rich biodiversity of the World Heritage Area, as well as agricultural crops and the quality of life for local residents. Yellow crazy ants were first detected in the Wet Tropics in 2001 and infestations have since spread to cover over 1,688ha south of Cairns and about 70ha near Kuranda. In 2013 the Wet Tropics Management Authority established the Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program to protect the World Heritage Area. The program has worked successfully with landholders, community and industry to detect additional infestations and prevent further spread of the ants. It has eradicated several small infestations and demonstrated that it can reduce ant numbers significantly through baiting over large and complex forest areas.

The Authority will:

• eradicate the yellow crazy ant infestation that is within and adjacent to the World Heritage Area by 2030 (the program was initially funded from 2013 to 2019 through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and Queensland Government funding)

• continue to research yellow crazy ants, secure additional funding, involve Indigenous rangers and develop cost-effective methods for treatment and monitoring.