Briar Density Distributions on The Reserve
and their response over time to our briar eradication program
Cumulative since 2011 |
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Reserve: |
2011-2023 |
Whole area (Reserve plus Bottom Pinnacle plus North Kama): |
2011-2023 |
Quick Comparison (click on any small map to go to a larger version below)
2011-12
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2012-13
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2013-14
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2014-15
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2015-16
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2016-17
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2017-18
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2018-19
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2019-20
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2020-21
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2021-22
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2022-23
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2011-23 Reserve
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2011-23 All areas
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Note that treatment of briars did not commence in the area that became the Pinnacle Extension until 2012











Cumulative Briar Densities across the Reserve July 2011 to June 2023

Cumulative Briar Densities across the Reserve,
Bottom Pinnacle and North Kama July 2011 to June 2023
To view this map as a semi-transparent overlay in Google Earth:
Download briardensity2011-21_ALL.kmz [337 kB] and open it in Google Earth.
Tip: To view from directly above (no tilt, etc.) in Google Earth, click anywhere on the map once in Google Earth and then hit the "R" key on your keyboard.
fotpin's approach to briar eradication
Since 2011, briar control on the Reserve and neighbouring paddocks
has been carried out largely by spraying (with the recommended concentration of metasulfuron-methyl), with some selected cut and dab from time to time (with concentrated glyphosate). Our approach
to briars, as opposed to the "sweep search and destroy" spraying of more prevalent weeds, has
been to collect waypoints of briars and then follow up with spraying those targets. All weeders active on
the Reserve collect briar waypoints which are accumulated for several months and then targeted. In the
process of targeting, other briars are also identified and sprayed. Since the refinement of the briar
density maps above and the implementation of GPS devices on which such maps
can be installed (eg the Garmin etrex 20 and 30 series), sweeping of denser patches is also carried out at the
time of spraying (regardless of any previously identified briars in those areas). This approach greatly improved the efficiency of spraying. Furthermore, because each briar
treated is waypointed, maintaining a spatial database the collected waypoints provides a good means of determining briar
distribution and densities and the changes in these from year to year. Waypoints for briars treated in
other ways (for example by pulling small ones or by cutting and daubing larger ones) are also added to
the collection.
This methodology was gradually developed in the 2011-12 season, but not
fully implemented; waypointing was not inclusive, searching not as careful and not all briars were waypointed
when sprayed. Treatment was applied consistently on the Reserve, including the area that was to become the Extension) from 2012-13 onwards. For this reason, density maps show an increase between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Briar treatment was started later in the
neighbouring paddocks, and treatment has not been as thorough in all years as on the Reserve, so the data is a less reliable indication of the briar density in North Kama and Bottom Pinnacle.
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