The hardy, fast-growing African boxthorn and exotic rodent Rattus rattus alexandinus will be stamped out from the island with the funding, which has been provided by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Community Action Grants scheme.

Project leader David Guilfoyle said the species upset the ecological balance of the island.

“African boxthorn occurs in patches across Woody Island and if left to flourish, will out-compete the native plants,” he said.

“Birds carry the seeds of the weed across to other islands.

“The rodents are widespread also across the island.

“It is possible that predation and competition with black rats led to the disappearance of several native mammal species on Woody Island, including a native rodent.”

A field school program developed by the Gabbie Kylie Foundation – established to conserve the Indigenous heritage values of south coast WA – will provide a team of people to undertake the eradication.

During two ten-day intensive sessions, traps will be set and baited to catch the rodent, while the African boxthorn will be removed by hand labour.

“The team will use management techniques that are effective, human, safe, socially acceptable and affordable, with a high likelihood of success,” Mr Guilfoyle said.

“The intensive nature of this program, combined with a large team, aims to eradicate the rodents and African boxthorn from the island.”

Mr Guilfoyle said the project was vital if the environmental integrity of the island was to be maintained.

“The island, like all islands of the Recherche Archipelago, provides a refuge and largely undisturbed habitat for terrestrial fauna and populations of mammals once widespread on the mainland,” he said.

“As the granite domes and hills are known as areas of diversity, these areas also contain an abundance of archaeological evidence, indicating that they were also places targeted by people in the past for the desirable water catchment properties and associated abundance of plant and animal resources.”