Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Rangers have joined forces to battle fields of invasive Leucaena weeds on Boigu.

When Boigu Senior Ranger Nelson Gibuma put out the call for help, 14 TSRA Rangers from Dauan, Erub, Mabuyag, Moa and Saibai responded.

Mr Gibuma said the weed removal was an aspiration identified by the community and local native title body – it just needed ranger power.

“This project is important to the Boigu community because this pest weed has been getting out of hand,” Mr Gibuma said.

“Three-metre-tall Leucaena weeds were spreading to people’s yards and taking over native trees and plants, such as Yam plantations.”

The respected cultural advisor and traditional language speaker said the pest species had become a big problem in recent times.

“The weeds were so dense and overgrown it was hard to walk through – it was like a forest,” he said.

“The community needed help to get it under control and the TSRA Rangers were happy to help.”

Rangers transported material and equipment from Thursday Island.

Over four days, they treated, uprooted and transformed the pest weed into about 180 kilos of mulch, which remained covered with tarps for several weeks to stop the weed re-sprouting.

In a gesture of appreciation for the local hospitality, the group took the opportunity to maintain and tend to the Cemetery of Boigu.

TSRA Rangers cut grass, cleared unwanted trees, raked leaves and removed debris from the cemetery grounds before making the journey back to their communities.

Acting Top Western Cluster Ranger Supervisor Alice Manas said the project was important for both the local community and visiting rangers.

“Caring for land and sea also is also about respecting those who have cared for country long before us,” Ms Manas said.

“As rangers, we appreciate this as a gift and responsibility – we are proud to play our part.”

TSRA Chairperson Napau Pedro Stephen AM said TSRA Rangers continued to support community aspirations.

“TSRA Rangers carry out a range of activities including pest and weed control, marine debris management, surveillance and monitoring, dugong and turtle management, seagrass monitoring and cultural heritage site protection, in addition to traditional ecological knowledge recording and management in partnership with communities,” Mr Stephen said.

Community members can collect the free mulch from the Boigu ranger office throughout November.

For more information visit the Boigu ranger office or call 4069 4098.

Find out more about the TSRA at www.tsra.gov.au or follow us on Facebook.