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The Guardian
02-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Buffel kerfuffle: should the invasive grass be listed as a weed of national significance in Australia?
Buffel is a simple grass causing an almighty kerfuffle across the country as it progresses through nomination as a weed of national significance. The perennial grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) is native to Africa and was accidentally introduced to the Australian outback via seeds hitchhiking on camel harnesses, before being deliberately planted through the early and mid-20th century as a summer-growing pasture. It grows in tall tufts with a fluffy flowering head and has spread through the arid and semi-arid rangelands of inland Australia. Many farmers love buffel. It is a good-quality, drought-resistant cattle feed. It regenerates quickly after fire and can colonise bare ground, reducing dust and erosion. But its quick and aggressive growth makes it an invasive species, outcompeting natives, and its highly flammable nature fuels wildfires. Buffel is particularly problematic in Indigenous desert communities, where it takes enormous effort and finances to control. 'Buffel grass is taking over our country,' Wanda Miller, a board member with Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA), says. 'It's changing the landscape, it's killing native plants and wildlife, it's changing the fire patterns across Country and increasing the risk and intensity of bushfires.' It is spread widely through the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands of central Australia and has been a declared pest in South Australia since 2015 and the Northern Territory since July 2024, after fires fuelled by buffel grass in 2023 burned more than 100,000 hectares of national park. At a 2022 IDA conference, APY Warru Rangers presented the Umuwa Statement on Buffel Grass, which led, in part, to IDA nominating buffel as a weed of national significance in January 2025. The nomination has been backed by 83 organisations. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter 'We need support to get our healthy Country back and the next step is recognising buffel as a weed of national significance to help our communities get better support for fighting this dangerous weed,' Miller says. Thirty-two species are now listed as weeds of national significance (WONS) based on their invasiveness, potential for spread, and environmental, social and economic impacts. They include well-known pests such as blackberry, fireweed, lantana and serrated tussock. But some farmers in Queensland say buffel should instead be considered a feed of national significance. 'It is the backbone of Queensland's grazing systems,' says the AgForce Queensland cattle board president, Lloyd Hick. 'It sustains the production of millions of kilograms of beef that underpin domestic and international food security. Removing access to buffel would cripple the beef industry.' Those who farm with buffel understand the fire risk it poses but manage accordingly, keeping pastures short in fire seasons. Buffel can also act as a coloniser plant, reducing dust and erosion on overgrazed pastures, says the pasture ecologist Judi Earl. She consults on landscape regeneration across Queensland and says past grazing practices have created the perfect environment for buffel grass to shine. 'Native grasses are resilient when managed appropriately but they are very sensitive to being overgrazed – and under continuous stocking, regardless of the environment, they are going to drop out of the system fairly quickly,' Earl says. 'When you are left with bare, exposed soil, buffel seems to be able to colonise those areas successfully and provides cover to protect the soil surface. From an ecological and landscape function perspective, having some groundcover is an advantage over having bare ground.' Whether buffel is considered a friend or a foe depends on circumstances. 'It comes back to whether focus is on production or on regenerating native species and a different approach to management is required for each,' Earl says. 'If you're managing for optimal animal production, you will probably be in favour of grazing buffel.' Sign up to The Rural Network Subscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs after newsletter promotion The WONS process recognises the opposing uses of buffel, understanding it can be both an important pasture grass and a weed that outcompetes native grasses, but says it is 'appropriate that species that have benefits and negative effects are eligible for consideration within the process, to assess harmful impacts and consider any actions that could improve management'. Ian Thompson is a former national chief environmental biosecurity officer and says the nomination is not about removing buffel from grazing land, but about 'limiting the damage on non-pastoral lands'. But pastoralists aren't convinced. The AgForce CEO, Mike Guerin, says listing buffel as a weed of national significance would be a slippery slope and feels the grazing industry has not been properly consulted. 'Let's not shy away from the fact there are challenges from buffel grass,' he says. 'Let's keep the WONS register and respect it for what it is and only put something on when the research has been done. Buffel supports and underpins grazing, it holds landscapes together, it stops run-off to the reef – it does a lot of good things that haven't been considered. Rather than listing buffel as a weed of national significance, what makes sense is to put everybody in the room and have those tough conversations.' Final determination of buffel as a weed of national significance is due at the end of 2025. Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outback battle erupts over potential change to status of invasive species: 'Devastating killer'
Debate has ignited between Australian farmers and conservationists after buffel grass, an introduced species, was nominated for inclusion on the Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) list by the federal government. The Indigenous Desert Alliance, Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board and the Arid Lands Environment Centre said the nomination, backed by extensive research and support from 48 organisations, reflects buffel grass's widespread environmental, social and cultural impacts. Speaking to Yahoo, the Invasive Species Council's Dr Carol Booth branded buffel one of Australia's "most devastating invaders", known for taking over vast areas and fuelling "fierce tree-killing fires". But many Australian farmers and pastoralists support it for its resilience and value as a drought-tolerant pasture for livestock. The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) said calls to list buffel as a WoNS are ignoring the benefits it provides to graziers across the country. NFF's Angus Atkinson said while WoNS status is "a useful tool," it should only be applied "where there is consensus that a plant is a weed" and would benefit from "national coordination and support." Originally introduced for dust control and livestock grazing in the 1800s, buffel grass has since spread rapidly, increasing the frequency of wildfires, threatening biodiversity, damaging infrastructure and disrupting First Nations' cultural practices. It is already listed as a key threat in conservation advice for at least 31 species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. South Australia declared buffel grass a weed in 2015, and the Northern Territory has also listed it as a pest plant. However, it remains widely used by pastoralists in other states. Aussies told to hunt for invasive threat 'lurking' in gardens Iconic species faces 'being lost forever' over $18 billion threat Aussies told to urgently check gardens for 'serious weed' on the move Booth said the Invasive Species Council strongly endorses the nomination of buffel grass as a WONS. "As one of Australia's very worst weeds, it needs a concerted national focus," she said. "It is an ecosystem transformer — turning diverse Australian plant communities into buffel monocultures, including in national parks and Indigenous protected areas. "Buffel is also a major hazard for people (particularly Aboriginal communities), Indigenous cultural sites and bush tucker, and infrastructure. Climate and oil modelling predict that 25 per cent of Australia is 'highly suitable' and 43 per cent 'suitable' for buffel grass. Booth said if buffel grass is declared a WoSN, the focus of the program would be to reduce its impacts on the environment, culture and communities. "The WoNS listing would not affect pastoralists," she said. But according to Atkinson, the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Committee Chair at the NFF, buffel provides essential feed in arid regions where few other grasses can thrive. He said it helps to sustain grazing operations during dry conditions, too. Atkinson told Yahoo the NFF, with the active support of its members, continues to seek a separate process for assessment of contentious plants. "Buffel has significant grazing benefits in northern Australia and those benefits need careful and balanced consideration," he argued. "It is a high-yielding plant renowned for its resilience in arid regions. It also has significant environmental co-benefits, including land rehabilitation, protecting grasslands, and erosion mitigation. "NFF members would much rather it be referred to as a 'feed of national significance'. There is no doubt that tackling weeds is a significant concern for farmers. The NFF and its members believe buffel grass needs to be treated as the complex plant that it is." On Thursday, federal MP Bob Katter strongly opposed the proposed classification of buffel grass as a WoNS. "Buffel grass wasn't brought here by accident — it was introduced because it's one of the best options we've got. It holds the soil together and keeps the cattle fed even during drought," he said. "The Gulf and Peninsula were built on buffel, Brahman, and bitumen." However, the species' aggressive growth outcompetes native vegetation, leading to the loss of biodiversity and threatening the survival of native plant species and wildlife. The weed's spread has also hindered access to cultural sites and reduced the availability of plants that Indigenous communities rely on for food and healing. The dominance of buffel grass in various regions significantly disrupts the complexity of local plant and animal communities, resulting in a more uniform and less diverse ecosystem. This simplification weakens their resilience, making them more vulnerable to environmental stressors and less capable of adapting to changes such as climate shifts and natural disturbances. After the nomination, the Australian government will assess the submission through a panel of experts. This involves evaluating the weed's environmental, social, and economic impacts, alongside the scientific evidence provided in the nomination. A decision will be made later this year on whether buffel will officially be added to the WoNS list. If approved, the recognition would trigger a coordinated national approach to managing its spread and mitigating its negative effects, including heightened fire risks and biodiversity loss. This could lead to additional resources and strategies to control buffel grass, particularly in conservation areas and lands important to First Nations communities. Do you have a story tip? 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