Why are some areas free of invasive native plants?
Not all areas which have been subject to disturbance have invasive native plants. This may be curious, because similar country not far away may have dense regeneration. The main reasons are: • the grazing regime allows palatable species to regenerate and compete with unpalatable species. Total grazing pressure will be lower than in areas where shrub invasion may be a problem. • the land in question is ‘better country’, i.e. more fertile, favouring the growth of preferred species. This is especially important when establishing pastures following clearing. Establishing pasture on marginal land with low ‘land capability’ is difficult and the chances of failure are high. This will mean that the natives will outcompete the introduced species. • the fire history of the land has mitigated against encroachment of invasive plants.
