There's a saying to the effect that to manage a problem, you need good data to report on it.
The tools to start this work began with the STAMP Moth Plant maps and with OMBFW's use of iNaturalist. By collecting data about weed instances (a given species at a given location), it is possible to record visits and the actions take to control each weed species.
These initiatives are now combined in the CAMS Weeds eToolkit - the electronic counterpart of your physical kitbag of gels, secateurs/saws etc.
By recording weed data, it becomes possible for a growing army of volunteers to systematically visit each site and to deal to the instances there.
Why record the data? Here are some reasons:
Mapping weed locations and status helps to motivate people to act and councils to provide resources
Showing what's been done and what hasn't allows people to visit an area and tackle a street, a park or group of backyards around a stream on a regular basis - weeding is an ongoing process - repeated visits are needed - CAMS can flag when it's time to go back.
Recording the methods used to control the weeds help build up a picture of what is most effective in a given area.
Recording the number of people and hours involved in this work helps identify the size of the task.
The talented volunteers helping the CAMS project are building dashboards to display that state of weeds in chosen regions, districts or defined polygons
The screenshot below shows the statistics for one local board area in the Auckland region.
What would the stats for your area look like? We are working on a public facing map that will allow you to see. Watch this space.
Email info@ewc.nz or systems@econeet.nz for more information
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