Part 2: Working smarter together>Key insights from the Cross-Tenure Weed Management Project

In May 2025, RM Consulting Group delivered a final report to the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP), alongside the Victorian Gorse Taskforce and the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, examining opportunities and barriers to cross-tenure weed data collection and sharing across Victoria. The project aimed to understand better how invasive plant data is recorded, stored and shared, and how improved collaboration could strengthen landscape-scale weed management outcomes. We will now explore the results, findings, limitations, and conclusions of this project through a series of four blogs, social posts, and communication products. 

Part 2: From paddock to platform: Improving how we collect weed data

Effective weed management starts with good information. Knowing where weeds are, how dense they are, and how they respond to treatment is critical to making informed decisions on the ground.

The recent cross-tenure project led by the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party provides valuable insight into how weed data is currently being collected across Victoria—and where the opportunities lie to improve.

One of the most striking findings is the diversity of tools and methods used by land managers. Around 65% of respondents reported using mobile phone or tablet applications such as WeedScan and iNaturalist to record weed data. These tools offer significant advantages, including real-time data capture, mapping capabilities and the ability to share information quickly with others.

At the same time, more traditional methods remain widely used. GPS devices and pen-and-paper approaches are still common, particularly among landholders working in areas with limited connectivity or those seeking simple, low-cost solutions.

Each method has its strengths. Digital tools can streamline workflows and improve collaboration, while traditional approaches remain reliable and accessible. However, this mix of systems also presents challenges.

A key issue identified in the project is the lack of consistency in how data is recorded and stored. Different formats—such as GPS points, photos, spreadsheets and handwritten notes—can make it difficult to integrate and share information across organisations. This limits the ability to build a complete picture of weed distribution and management efforts across the landscape.

Despite these challenges, there are clear opportunities to improve.

The project highlights the importance of promoting tools that contribute to centralised databases, such as the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas. By encouraging more land managers to use compatible systems, data collected at a local level can contribute to broader planning and investment decisions.

There is also a strong need for training and support, particularly for landholders who may want to collect data but are unsure where to start. Improving awareness of available tools and how to use them will be key to increasing participation.

Ultimately, improving how weed data is collected is not about replacing existing methods—it’s about making them more connected, consistent and useful.

The full report is available upon request.

This project was funded through the Victorian State Government through a Pest and Partnerships Grant and delivered by the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Group, the Victorian Gorse Taskforce, and the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce.