BIOSECURITY SA is seeking public comment for a new strategy paper on Buffel grass – a serious invader that has the potential to spread rapidly across South Australia.
Biosecurity SA’s Manager of NRM Biosecurity, Dr John Virtue, said Buffel grass currently posed the greatest threat in the State’s arid and semi-arid rangelands.
“Buffel grass (or Cenchrus ciliaris) is a perennial tussock grass native to Africa, India and Asia,” Dr Virtue said.
“Since the late 1950s, it’s been a major pasture grass sown in northern Australia but has spread into South Australia in recent decades.
“The benefits of Buffel grass for livestock production, however, must be compared with its serious conservation and social impacts. It can form dense monocultures, change natural fire regimes and threaten the survival of rare native plants and animals.
“With the need to manage fire risk and protect assets, and the loss of diversity in native pastures, Buffel grass can actually pose significant production costs. Buffel grass is not approved for planting in the pastoral regions, which has put South Australia in a unique position to take strategic actions now to protect our precious rangelands.”
Dr Virtue said climatic modelling predicted Buffel grass, if left unchecked, could establish over most of the State in the longer term. Invasion of Buffel grass is considered to be a major threat to biodiversity and especially to remote communities in South Australia.
Biosecurity SA recently released a Draft Buffel Grass Strategic Plan for South Australia which is open for comment until 31 July 2012.
“The plan is part of a strategic approach to South Australia’s weed management. The overall aim is to lessen the damage caused by weeds in relation to the environment, property, infrastructure and public health,” Dr Virtue said.
“This draft Buffel grass strategic plan will aid the development of state policy and regional weed management plans to direct on-ground programs to prevent the spread of Buffel grass in South Australia.”
Copies of the plan and online submissions can be lodged at:
