2011
Download
About the plan
The Threat abatement plan for the biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion, caused by cane toads is a national strategy to guide efforts by all levels of government, research organisations and non-government organisations in reducing the impacts of cane toads on native animals and ecosystems.
The threat abatement plan (TAP) aims to:
- identify native species and ecosystems at risk due to cane toads
- reduce the impact of cane toads on native species and ecosystems
- communicate information about cane toads and their impacts.
The focus of this TAP is how we can better protect native animals and natural environments based on a recently improved understanding of the impacts of cane toads. Research has demonstrated that these impacts are not as negative as may have expected historically, and that some native species can rapidly adapt to cane toads. However, other species are less able to do so. This can lead to a population “crash” when the species is first exposed to cane toads. Where a native species is already under pressure from other threats, a population, or the species as a whole may become endangered. This TAP will use the improved understanding of cane toads and their impacts to better deliver our protection of native animals and the environment.
In order to be effective in protecting Australia’s flora and fauna it is essential to share this new knowledge on managing cane toads and their impacts. It is also vital that both the Australian, state and territory governments offer support and advice to community efforts to limit those impacts, and to ensure that the goals of the TAP are reached. Communicating scientific information to the appropriate people about which native species and ecosystems are at risk is a key factor in managing cane toads and the threat they pose to the Australian environment.