As part of the team, Jesse, specialises on eradicating the weed, Miconia calvescens, which is considered a priority weed.
The main basis for my decision to work in the environmental sector, and more specifically weed biosecurity, is to care for Country. I’m a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander from Tweeds Heads, and strongly believe that I have a responsibility to look after the environment and the place I call home, the Northern Rivers. I take pride in the role and feel privileged to have the responsibility to work in this beautiful area.”
As a Weed Biosecurity Officer, Jesse is specifically focusing on the Miconia calvescens Eradication Project.
In my role, I work to create public awareness about the threat of Miconia calvescens in the Northern Rivers and conduct field surveillance of properties where M.calvescens has been found. This plant has the potential to cause vast damage to our region’s sub-tropical rainforest areas due to the shallow root system and monoculture habit creating high landslide potential.
M.calvescens has a seed dormancy of 16 years and so creating a good relationship with property owners is paramount in aiding the search, as we revisit each known property, and surrounds, every two years.
I will be attending the NSW Weeds conference in Dubbo in early August, 2023, and presenting a talk on the Miconia calvecsens project. There is also an opportunity to travel to north Queensland later in the year to gain skills and network with the 4 Tropical Weeds Eradication Project Team and see how they carry out their Miconia surveillance.
I thoroughly enjoy my role in the Weed Biosecurity Team. My teammates come from a variety of backgrounds, and careers, making the team a great place to be part of.”
As for Jesse’s future aspirations, he aims to share his knowledge of traditional methods for land management and bush fire reduction with the broader community.
“I have a passion for caring for Country and one day would love to assist landowners to manage their property using traditional methods of land management. The use of fire as a tool for reducing fuel loads in sclerophyll dry bushland is something that I feel needs to be utilise more. I would love to be the person who could help people preparing property for fire season and mitigating damage to assets and the environment using this method.”
