Cane toad impact assessment and national plan

Project Leader: Prof Rick Shine, University of Sydney

Aim: To provide draft advice to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on research and developments.

 Project: 5.t.5e

Project summary

Research is rapidly advancing our knowledge of the impact of cane toads on Australia’s environment and biodiversity. Cane toads continue to expand their range and knowledge of their impact on wildlife is import in order to best conserve at risk species. This project will review all current literature on the impact of toads on the environment (Prof. Rick Shine, the University of Sydney). The review will be published in its own right and be used to inform advice on cane toad management under the Environmental and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

In 2005, the then Minister for the Environment determined that cane toads should be considered a ‘Key Threatening Process’ under the EPBC Act, but that a Threat Abatement Plan would be neither feasible nor efficient. This project will provide draft advice to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on research and developments since that time. The threatened Species Scientific Committee will then use the project information to make advice to the Minister for the Environment.

Key achievements

• Review of the Environmental Impact of Cane Toads completed and submitted for peer-reviewed publication and used as basis for advice to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
• Report to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on the need and feasibility of a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) for cane toads completed and provided.
• Advice has been accepted by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.

Project team

Prof Tony Peacock (IA CRC), Prof Rick Shine (Uni of Sydney).

Project partners

IA CRC, University of Sydney.

Further information

Draft Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) Threat Abatement Plan

For further information, contact us.