In the vibrant heart of the Pacific, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity but beneath the canopy and across the gardens, a quiet threat is spreading. Invasive weeds, fast-growing, aggressive plants which are not only growing “a mile-a-minute” but are undermining livelihoods, impacting ecosystems and costing the economy.
For communities who rely on subsistence farming, invasive weeds are relentless as they invade food gardens, smother crops and force farmers to spend hours clearing land that once flourished naturally as grazing lands are overrun, livestock suffer, and traditional practices are disrupted.
Biological control of weeds in PNG has made significant strides, particularly in tackling invasive species like Chromolaena odorata, a fast-spreading weed that affects plantations, food gardens and grazing lands.
