Threat management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Source: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management/threat-management
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Threat management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
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Threat management
Managing key invasive pest animals, weeds and plant diseases.
Close up of a fox, cane toad and arum lily plant with a dieback infested landscape in the background
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has three key programs which address the threat of invasive animals, weeds and plant diseases; the invasive animals program, the weeds program and the plant diseases program. Key threats and management programs are listed below.
Invasive animals
The invasive animals program works to inform, educate, manage, and monitor a number of invasive animals, managing
Western Shield
and the Cane Toad Strategy and working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including community, Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups and State Government agencies.
Western Shield
Western Shield
is DBCA's lead wildlife recovery program and one of the largest wildlife conservation programs in Australia. With a focus on threatened species, it aims to protect priority native animals across DBCA-managed lands and selected adjacent bushland in Western Australia. The program aims to protect and where possible rehabilitate populations and the diversity of native species through targeted fox and cat baiting programs.
Feral Cat Strategy
The Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy 2023-2028 aims to conserve populations of threatened native fauna species through effective, adaptive, and humane actions to control feral cats. Feral cats pose a major and ongoing threat to WA’s biodiversity, including threatened native species. The strategy is backed by a $7.6 million investment through the 2023-24 State Budget, which will enable research programs, conservation projects and landscape-scale management of feral cats in key conservation areas across WA, delivered by DBCA in partnership with non-government organisations and community groups.
Cane Toad Strategy
The Cane Toad Strategy for Western Australia aims to mitigate the impact of cane toads, understand the success of management actions, address knowledge gaps, and collaborate to work on new ideas and strategies for broader cane toad management across the State. The cane toad program under the strategy has been successful in partnering with universities, NRM groups and community to deliver a wide range of education and community information as well as implementing strategies to mitigate the impact of cane toads on native species like northern quolls and flood plain goannas through conditioned taste aversion.
Downloads
Document
Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy 2023-2028
-
1.55 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 19-12-2023
Document
Cane Toad Strategy for Western Australia 2021-2026
-
1.47 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 02-04-2024
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High pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1strain 2.3.4.4b
Invasive animals
Invasive animals
Working to recover and sustain wild populations of Western Australian native fauna threatened by invasive animals.
Plant diseases
Plant diseases
Plant diseases and how we manage them.
Weeds
Weeds
Weeds are plants that can grow in locations where they are not desired and can have adverse effects on the environment and economy.
Skip to main content
Threat management
Managing key invasive pest animals, weeds and plant diseases.
Close up of a fox, cane toad and arum lily plant with a dieback infested landscape in the background
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has three key programs which address the threat of invasive animals, weeds and plant diseases; the invasive animals program, the weeds program and the plant diseases program. Key threats and management programs are listed below.
Invasive animals
The invasive animals program works to inform, educate, manage, and monitor a number of invasive animals, managing
Western Shield
and the Cane Toad Strategy and working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including community, Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups and State Government agencies.
Western Shield
Western Shield
is DBCA's lead wildlife recovery program and one of the largest wildlife conservation programs in Australia. With a focus on threatened species, it aims to protect priority native animals across DBCA-managed lands and selected adjacent bushland in Western Australia. The program aims to protect and where possible rehabilitate populations and the diversity of native species through targeted fox and cat baiting programs.
Feral Cat Strategy
The Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy 2023-2028 aims to conserve populations of threatened native fauna species through effective, adaptive, and humane actions to control feral cats. Feral cats pose a major and ongoing threat to WA’s biodiversity, including threatened native species. The strategy is backed by a $7.6 million investment through the 2023-24 State Budget, which will enable research programs, conservation projects and landscape-scale management of feral cats in key conservation areas across WA, delivered by DBCA in partnership with non-government organisations and community groups.
Cane Toad Strategy
The Cane Toad Strategy for Western Australia aims to mitigate the impact of cane toads, understand the success of management actions, address knowledge gaps, and collaborate to work on new ideas and strategies for broader cane toad management across the State. The cane toad program under the strategy has been successful in partnering with universities, NRM groups and community to deliver a wide range of education and community information as well as implementing strategies to mitigate the impact of cane toads on native species like northern quolls and flood plain goannas through conditioned taste aversion.
Downloads
Document
Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy 2023-2028
-
1.55 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 19-12-2023
Document
Cane Toad Strategy for Western Australia 2021-2026
-
1.47 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 02-04-2024
Socials
Related
H5 avian influenza (bird flu)
H5 avian influenza (bird flu)
High pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1strain 2.3.4.4b
Invasive animals
Invasive animals
Working to recover and sustain wild populations of Western Australian native fauna threatened by invasive animals.
Plant diseases
Plant diseases
Plant diseases and how we manage them.
Weeds
Weeds
Weeds are plants that can grow in locations where they are not desired and can have adverse effects on the environment and economy.