Management of Acacia dealbata in Portugal
Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae: EPPO List of Invasive Alien plants) is native to Australia and is invasive in Africa, Asia, the Americas, the EPPO region, and New Zealand. It can have negative effects on the habitats it invades, where it can change soil properties favouring its own growth at the detriment of other plant species. Controlling A. dealbata has its complications, as the species can resprout after cutting. A slash (cut) and burn experiment was conducted in the Coimbra district in central Portugal between October 2018 and December 2021. Three different treatments were used: (1) single treatments (burn, slash or untreated controls), (2) repeated slash treatments, and (3) combined slash and burn treatments (different combinations of slash and burn treatments). Burn plots were subjected to experimental burns conducted between February and June under moderate weather conditions. The results show that slash-and-burn treatments without follow-up interventions were not effective for controlling A. dealbata populations. The slash treatments stimulated resprouting, while burn treatments promoted seed germination. When combined treatments were applied, the number of resprouts and seedling were reduced, however, the minimum stem density remained at 6.5 stems m2.
Sources
Riveiro SF, Nereu M, Reyes O, Silva JS (2025) Effectiveness of slash and burn treatments in controlling Acacia dealbata Link invasion, Biological Invasions, (2025) 27,125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-025-03567-8