Weeding out trouble

When Associate Professor Sonia Graham was a PhD candidate, she became fascinated with weeds. Not so much the weeds themselves – although as a human geographer, much of her study explored the nexus between the Earth and humanity – but what they revealed about the extraordinary power of people working together to solve environmental challenges.

No matter how tireless someone was in clearing their paddocks of invasive plants, Associate Professor Graham discovered, it was a losing battle unless their neighbours joined the fight. The wind and floodwaters are perfect vehicles for dispersing seeds across great distances.

For Associate Professor Graham, weeds evolved into something bigger than an agricultural nuisance: they became a living symbol of the importance of collective action. That insight sparked an ambitious, five-year research journey to unearth what truly motivates communities to band together for the common good. One person would find it overwhelming to tackle their neighbourhood weeds, but if a group of people all focus on their small patch, the problem becomes infinitely more manageable.

Funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, it was the first time a study of this kind had been undertaken in Australia. It led Associate Professor Graham right to the heart of a community of volunteers, who worked together to tackle major projects and provided a blueprint for how governments can confront widespread weed management throughout Australia.

The war on weeds

Weeds impose a massive financial strain on Australian agriculture and the broader economy. The most up-to-date figures from 2025 indicate that weeds cost Australia about $5 billion each year, encompassing both control measures and production losses across major agricultural sectors.​

The scale of the challenge is staggering. Around 2700 weed species have been recorded nationally, and more than 400 are listed as major environmental weeds threatening biodiversity and native ecosystems.

These invasive species compete with native species for sunlight, water, and nutrients, crowding out landscapes and reducing biodiversity. In Australia, which is home to some of the world’s most distinctive flora and fauna, the impact can be devastating, pushing native plants and animals to the brink and making it harder for ecosystems to recover naturally. And while weeds are often exotic species, the term can also be used to refer to plants that are native but have been introduced to an ecosystem or geographical area outside their natural habitat.

There are 32 Weeds of National Significance in Australia, determined by the Federal Government. Among the worst offenders are bitou bush, blackberry, madeira vine, silver nightshade, prickly pear, and fireweed.

Community spirit and a common goal

Associate Professor Graham’s research, conducted largely in the south east of New South Wales, began with a deceptively simple question: if environmental challenges require collective action, how do we bring people together?

The answer lies far beyond herbicides and hand tools. At its core, Associate Professor Graham’s work uncovered the social glue that binds people together as custodians of the land. It is about connection, community, and a common goal.

“During my PhD I discovered that farmers largely avoided talking to their neighbours about weeds, but there was one notable exception,” she says. “In Towamba Valley, a small community near Eden on the Far South Coast, the local Landcare group had created an environment where farmers and other rural land managers were actively working together to control a specific weed: serrated tussock. Farmers had initiated a program that invited everyone in the Valley to come together twice a year to report on what they had been doing to control serrated tussock, what methods they found most effective and how they could support those finding it challenging. It made me wonder if there were other similar communities who have managed to collaborate on weeds and what the environmental and social benefits are of such efforts.”

Associate Professor Graham was drawn to Landcare, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that has been caring for the land, and prioritising conservation and land management projects that protect Australia’s ecosystems, for four decades. She realised this volunteer-powered group was quietly and without fanfare undertaking environmental projects that impacted their local area. They had long ago realised that change is often found in the cumulation of many small actions; that a group of passionate and engaged citizens can become powerful environmental stewards when they work together.

“In thinking about weeds as a collective problem I realised that many of our government policies and programs up until that point dealt with it as an individual problem. Legislation in most states and territories enables governments to inspect and fine rural property owners for not doing enough to control specific weeds on their properties. But this approach not only is individualistic but actively discourages property owners from cooperating because it creates a culture of fear and distrust,” she says.

"It is only when people work together on weeds, across property boundaries, can we see an appreciable reduction in weed populations and their impacts. The benefits are social as much as they are ecological. People are able to sleep easier knowing that weeds are under control."

The key reasons behind Landcare’s longevity and impact

• Working towards shared goals: Groups do best when they agree on clear aims for caring for their local environment, not just individual interests
• Keeping the work realistic: Setting small, doable goals and focusing on a manageable area helps groups succeed and avoid burnout
• Welcoming new people: Strong Landcare groups are always inviting others to join and making everyone feel included, no matter who they are
• Appreciating every bit of help: Whether someone volunteers for a few hours or many years, their contribution is recognised and thanked
• Sharing the load: Spreading leadership and admin tasks around stops a few people from becoming exhausted and helps others feel ownership
• Handling conflict early: When disagreements happen, long‑lasting groups talk openly and make decisions fairly so issues do not grow
• Asking for support: Getting help from councils, government programs or local organisations can bring in new ideas, funding and other resources.

Weeds don’t respect boundaries

For five years, Associate Professor Graham became embedded with seven Landcare groups, interviewing around 100 people. Time and again, her research reinforced a powerful lesson: environmental projects fail when approached in isolation.

“Imagine spending hours pulling out weeds, only for the wind to blow in a fresh crop from next door,” says Associate Professor Graham. “Weeds don’t respect fences or property boundaries. And neither should our solutions.

“One of the things that struck me the most throughout these interviews is just how dedicated some volunteers are to leading weed management efforts over the long-term. Some of the people I interviewed have been leading their Landcare groups for 20 to 30 years. As a result, they have much to show for their long-term commitment.

“Tathra Landcare has effectively eradicated bitou bush from the area in and around the town. It took them 30 years. For the best part of a decade a lot of effort was required simply to bring the number of bitou bush plants down to a manageable level. This required a lot of hours pulling weeds, applying herbicide and scaling cliffs to find and spray the plants. Then a further 20 years have been spent meticulously surveying the areas in and around the town – each month the group scours the dunes and hillsides for bitou bush, pulling out any they find along the way.

“From removing thousands of plants in the early years to dozens of plants last year, this group has shown just how much dedication and persistence is required to effectively eradicate a problem plant. There are very few success stories like this in the weed space.”

It’s not the relentless march of invasive species that unites people, Associate Professor Graham insists, but the understanding that only through collective action do communities stand a chance of building healthier, more resilient landscapes.

Forging connections during natural disasters

For many of the Landcare groups in Associate Professor Graham’s study, the toughest tests came from the devastating impacts of natural disasters. The Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020 tore through dozens of communities in South East NSW, destroying homes, fencing, livestock, and the very landscapes these volunteers had spent years nurturing.

“Suddenly, Landcare’s work wasn’t just about managing weeds or soil,” Associate Professor Graham says. “It was about helping friends and neighbours pick up the pieces. The shared trauma of disaster forged even deeper bonds within these groups. In some cases, Landcare meetings became a safe space for people to grieve, regroup, and start thinking about recovery.”

These experiences highlighted just how tightly linked environmental health and community wellbeing really are. In the wake of crisis, Landcare’s ability to rally volunteers, coordinate support, and bring diverse people together proved its value all over again.

Associate Professor Graham’s findings are now being used to inform government policy and practical support for environmental action across the country. Her work has been cited in new approaches to weed management, community grants, and rural disaster recovery programs. At the heart of her message is a call for governments and policymakers to recognise - and resource - the crucial “people power” that lies at the heart of Landcare and similar movements.

“Research shows that social cohesion is just as important as technical solutions,” Associate Professor Graham explains. “If we want to build landscapes that can withstand fires, invasive species, and a changing climate, we need to invest in the human networks that make collective stewardship possible.”

The principles she’s uncovered - welcoming new members, sharing leadership, valuing all kinds of contributions, and managing disagreements constructively - are universal for any group aiming to achieve lasting environmental outcomes.

Collective action, Associate Professor Graham says, isn’t just about clever science or generous grants. It’s about creating belonging, purpose, and shared investment in the future.

“The environmental questions we face are huge, but the answers will always begin locally, with neighbours deciding to work together.”

‘In the Weeds: Nurturing Community with Landcare’, by Associate Professor Sonia Graham, will be released by CSIRO Publishing in June.