Hygiene guidelines for wildlife
Protocols to protect priority biodiversity areas in NSW from Phytophthora cinnamomi, myrtle rust, amphibian chytrid fungus and invasive plants
Invasive pathogens and invasive plants pose a significant threat to biodiversity across New South Wales. People can reduce the spread of pathogens and invasive plants by practising good hygiene.
The hygiene procedures in the guidelines are aimed particularly at reducing the introduction of pathogens to new areas with susceptible threatened species, threatened ecological communities and areas of outstanding biodiversity value, but can also be applied to protect non-threatened species.
These guidelines can help you decide when and how to incorporate hygiene protocols into your fieldwork. They are simple procedures to ensure potentially-contaminated material is not transferred to a new, susceptible area. Good hygiene practices typically aim to remove soil and plant material from people, equipment or vehicles.
This guide should be used by employees of NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the Department), and contractors and volunteers undertaking works on behalf of the Department, on public or private land.
This guide may also be used by private individuals or businesses working in conservation and revegetation, agriculture, construction, forestry, other primary industries or fields involving work in the agricultural or natural environments.