Invasive Species Council

ISC annual awards, 2005

In 2005, the Invasive Species Council in Australia presented the 2005 Froggatt Award:

2005 Froggatt Award
The ISC Froggatt Award is presented annually in recognition of the early warning, preventative action, awareness raising or management of an invasive species in Australia.

Winner of the 2005 ISC Froggatt Award are Dr. Samantha Setterfield and Dr. Michael Douglas of Darwin. The pair has won the prize for their research on the severe impacts of tropical grassy weeds in northern Australia, and advocacy for a strong response from government.

Douglas and Setterfield have done a great job in showing the impacts of Gamba Grass and other disastrous invasive grasses, which is encouraging action from governments on the issue.

There is now strong community interest in the work to stop the further spread of Gamba Grass in the Northern Territory, in large part because of their work.

Gamba Grass is probably the single greatest threat to tropical savannas, a vitally important Australian ecosystem made up of native grasses in an open woodland. This foreign invader (or invasive grass) builds up fuel to a level which encourages much hotter fires, which kill the native trees, which are a feature of the landscape. The whole area is transformed from a vibrant, healthy savanna into an ugly blanket of weeds.

ISC says that Gamba Grass must be declared a noxious weed across northern Australia, and be prohibited from sale everywhere in Australia, to stop it from spreading to other areas.

"This award is really recognition that the uncontrolled spread of Gamba Grass is a disaster for this country, which came about because the agencies responsible for its introduction failed to consider its full range of impacts". Setterfield and Douglas said today.

"The award also recognises the excellent work of our students and collaborators over the past decade".

"We need to act on this threat, but also prevent any similar introductions in the future. Fortunately governments across the north are moving towards thorough assessments of the risks posed by new introductions and this should stop another monster grass like Gamba getting through"

Congratulations to Samantha Setterfield and Michael Douglas, for winning the 2005 Froggatt!

about the award
The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) was introduced into Australia at Edmonton in North Queensland in 1935 to control the Grey Backed Cane Beetle and the Frenchie Beetle which were devastating northern Australia's sugar cane industry. The Toad was introduced with no research or testing to see if it was specific to or suitable for control of these beetles.

As is so often the case, release of the Cane Toad was against the advice of some naturalists and scientists. These included a former New South Wales Government Entomologist named Walter W. Froggatt. Although their protests resulted in a brief moratorium on the release of toads, releases resumed in 1936.

The Toad had minimal impact on the beetles and has since become a widespread pest in north east Australia having significant impacts on indigenous fauna and ecosystems. It continues to invade across the top end, recently entering Kakadu National Park. To this day, research conducted, particularly into biological control, always meets the public question, "Will it become another Cane Toad?".

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Austin Award
The ISC Austin Award is given occasionally, in recognition for the most senseless introduction of, misguided promotion about, or foot-in-mouth comment regarding an invasive organism in Australia.

This Award will only be given occasionally, when there is a particularly deserving candidate.

In 2005, the Austin Award was not awarded.

about the award
This award is presented in recognition of Thomas Austin, the person responsible for the first successful introduction of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) into Australia in 1859 at Winchelsea, Victoria.