Environmental issues

Pests and weeds

Feral deer

Various species of deer have been introduced into NSW since colonisation. They can have major impacts in parks and reserves by:

  • destroying native plants by trampling plants, grazing on them and ringbarking young trees - in Royal National Park, they have had a major impact on the variety and abundance of plant species.
  • fouling waterholes
  • causing soil erosion
  • transmitting diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease
  • spreading weeds.
Royal National Park and other reserves - deer management plan
Feral deer have a major impact on the biodiversity of Royal National Park. Download this plan, which aims to manage deer populations in Royal National Park, balancing conservation goals with community interests.

Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer - key threatening process listing
The NSW Scientific Committee has declared herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer to be a 'key threatening process' in NSW. See its reasons for making this declaration.

Feral goats and deer in Kangaroo Valley - research, planning and control program 2006-2009
Growing feral deer and goat populations have been targeted in a three-year research and control program in Kangaroo Valley.

Herbivory and land degradation caused by feral deer as a keythreatening process - an overview
This explains why herbivory and land degradation caused by feral deer was listed as a key threatening process, and outlines the effect of this listing.
Page last updated: 28 October 2011